Over 17,000 individuals have been evacuated from Manitoba, Canada, due to rapidly spreading wildfires currently impacting the nation.
Military aircraft and helicopters are assisting in the evacuation of residents in remote areas, as firefighters combat intensifying blazes. The forecast predicts continued hot and dry weather.
Dense smoke from the over 188 active fires has blanketed Canada and parts of the United States.
Both Saskatchewan and Manitoba have declared month-long states of emergency and requested international assistance in wildfire suppression.
As of Saturday, Saskatchewan reported 17 wildfires, eight of which remain uncontained. The Canadian Interagency Forest Fire Centre (CIFFC) has classified conditions in the province as extreme.
Saskatchewan Premier Scott Moe cautioned at a press conference that the current 8,000 evacuees could rise to 10,000 given the persistent dry conditions.
Mr. Moe stated, “The next four to seven days are critical until we see a shift in weather patterns, ideally resulting in significant rainfall across the north.”
Widespread evacuations are also underway in Alberta and British Columbia as the fires expand.
A Manitoba official described the evacuation of the northern First Nations community of Pukatawagan as a “rapidly evolving situation.”
The Canadian Armed Forces, Manitoba Wildfire Service, and Manitoba’s Heavy Urban Search and Rescue Team are utilizing military aircraft and helicopters to safely relocate individuals from the northern Manitoba community.
Prime Minister Mark Carney commented on Saturday, “The scale and complexity of these air evacuations are immense, as is the unwavering dedication of the teams involved.”
In Flin Flon, Manitoba, a city of 5,000, only firefighters and essential support personnel remain.
Manitoba’s fire situation report indicates 25 active fires, 11 of which are classified as uncontrolled.
Winnipeg-based meteorologist Danielle Desjardins of Environment and Climate Change Canada shared an unfavorable forecast with the BBC.
While a cold front is anticipated in parts of Saskatchewan, it won’t provide relief to the fire-affected regions.
Ms. Desjardins noted, “The cold front will bring strong winds,” explaining that the combination of wind, heat, and lack of rain creates ideal conditions for wildfire spread.
Smoke has impacted an estimated 22 million Americans, placing them under air quality alerts this weekend.
Northern Minnesota residents received warnings of potentially “unhealthy for everyone” smoke levels, with air quality advisories for sensitive groups across the state extending until Monday evening.
2023 witnessed Canada’s worst wildfire season on record, with over 42 million acres (17.3m hectares) burned.
Wildfires are a natural occurrence in many regions, including Canada.
However, the UN’s climate body confirms that climate change is increasing the likelihood of weather conditions conducive to wildfire spread.
Prolonged and extreme heat depletes moisture from the ground and vegetation.
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