On Tuesday, 800 residents of Fort Chiepwyan in northern Alberta had to be airlifted to safety as fires bore down on the remote hamlet.Įarlier this month, wildfires in Alberta burned nearly one million hectares (2.74 million acres) of forests and grasslands, and at one point, displaced 30,000 people. In recent years, western Canada has been hit repeatedly by extreme weather, including floods and mudslides, forest fires that destroyed an entire town, and record-high summer temperatures that killed more than 500 people in 2021. Government data shows a decline in the number of wildfires in Canada since the 1980s, likely due to improved fire prevention.īut the past decade also saw more disastrous wildfires scorching a lot more land and displacing many more people – problems set to worsen with climate change. Houston announced a ban on all activities in Nova Scotia forests, including hiking, camping, fishing, hunting, the use of off-road vehicles and logging, and on Wednesday increased the fine for violating the burn ban to about $18,000 (25,000 Canadian dollars). “People are understandably tired, frustrated and frightened,” said Halifax Mayor Mike Savage, adding that “some have no home to return to”. Hot dry weather was forecast Thursday, with rain predicted for late Friday. Smoke from the wildfires blew down the Atlantic coast, prompting air quality alerts for the US state of New Jersey and parts of Pennsylvania, including the Philadelphia area.ĭavid Meldrum of the Halifax Regional Fire and Emergency, pointing to record-high temperatures forecast this week, warned of “a prolonged operation” to bring under control a large fire northwest of the port city that has displaced more than 16,000 residents. They have so far destroyed or damaged more than 200 homes and other structures, including a wooden bridge, but no injuries have been reported. Mainly sunny, Showers, Chance of showers, A mix of sun and cloud, Chance of showers High 29. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau called the wildfires “heartbreaking” and promised unlimited support.Īs of late Wednesday, 14 wildfires were burning in Nova Scotia, including three out of control. Houston said he has also asked for the military to help out. “Unprecedented resources are being used because these fires are unprecedented.”Īlready, additional kits have been shipped in from Ontario, and a dozen water bombers from neighbouring regions and the Coast Guard joined efforts to douse the flames and assist with evacuations. “We’re in a crisis in the province and we want and we need and we will take all the support we can get,” Nova Scotia Premier Tim Houston told a news conference on Wednesday, asking for assistance. The formal request for help will allow the government to provide additional resources, he said. Use the Page Down key to move a selection down in the list.Wildfires that have already forced thousands in the eastern Canadian province of Nova Scotia to evacuate continued to burn on Thursday, causing poor air quality hundreds of kilometres away as smoke drifted south across the United States border.įederal help was coming, officials said, along with about 100 firefighters from the US, after local authorities appealed for outside assistance.Ĭanada’s federal government had already “provided airlifts, aerial surveillance, crew comfort trailers, and food at the emergency shelters”, Sean Fraser, a cabinet minister and parliament member from Nova Scotia, said on Twitter on Thursday.Use the Page Up key to move a selection up in the list.If none are selected, it will select the last link. Use the ↓ Down key to select the link below.If none are selected, it will select the first link. Use the ↑ Up key to select the link above.Use the Enter key to click on buttons or links.Use the Tab key to move to a button or link.Click on the "Rename" button and change the link name.Click and hold the link and move to new location in the list.Click on the "Close" button to save the change. ![]() ![]()
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