Canadian wildfires: Thousands in Manitoba, Saskatchewan evacuated as fires tear through forests
More than 25,000 people in three Canadian provinces have been evacuated as dozens of wildfires remained active, affecting air quality as far as the US.
Most of the evacuated residents were from Manitoba, which declared a state of emergency last week.
About 17,000 people there were evacuated by Saturday along with 1300 in Alberta.
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By continuing you agree to our Terms and Privacy Policy.About 8000 people in Saskatchewan have been relocated as leaders there warn the number might climb.
Smoke was worsening air quality and reducing visibility in Canada and into some US states along the border.
“Air quality and visibility due to wildfire smoke can fluctuate over short distances and can vary considerably from hour to hour,” Saskatchewan’s Public Safety Agency warned on Sunday.
“As smoke levels increase, health risks increase.”
Saskatchewan Premier Scott Moe said firefighters, emergency crews and aircraft from other provinces and US states, including Alaska, Oregon and Arizona, were being sent to help fight the blazes.
“We are truly grateful, and we stand stronger because of you,” Moe said in a post on social media.
Ongoing hot, dry weather is allowing some fires to grow and threaten communities while resources to fight the fires and support the evacuees are stretched thin.
“The next four to seven days are absolutely critical until we can find our way to changing weather patterns, and ultimately a soaking rain throughout the north,” Moe said at a news conference.
The US Department of Agriculture’s Forest Service deployed an air tanker to Alberta and said it would send 150 firefighters and equipment to Canada.
In some parts of the US, air quality reached “unhealthy” levels on Sunday in North Dakota and small swaths of Montana, Minnesota and South Dakota, according to the US Environmental Protection Agency’s AirNow page.
Canada’s wildfire season runs from May through September.
Its worst-ever wildfire season was in 2023 when it choked much of North America with dangerous smoke for months.
