Thousands more have been warned to be ready to leave their homes at any time, while the number of fires, fanned by strong winds, rose to 110.
“We have declared a state of emergency” in the province to ensure “the safety, health and well-being of Albertans,” Alberta Premier Danielle Smith said at a conference. press following a meeting of his government’s emergency management committee.
This Canadian province, one of the largest oil-producing regions, “has experienced a dry and hot spring and, with so much firewood, a few sparks are enough to start truly terrifying forest fires”, he had stressed more early.
“These conditions have resulted in the unprecedented situation our province faces today.”
Smith said some 122,000 hectares had burned so far.
The declaration of a state of emergency gives the Alberta government “greater powers to respond to extreme situations,” he said, including mobilizing additional resources and releasing emergency funds.
Almost all of Alberta and much of the neighboring province of Saskatchewan, as well as a large swath of the Northwest Territories, face extreme fire risk, according to a government fire risk map federal.
Federal Emergency Preparedness Minister Bill Blair tweeted that Ottawa stands ready to provide federal assistance if needed.
Oil sands facilities were monitoring the hazards closely, but none reported any interruptions to their production.
Drayton Valley, a population of 7,000 and about 140 kilometers west of Edmonton, was among the communities evacuated as firefighters battled a wildfire.
About 550 kilometers north of the provincial capital, a severe fire destroyed 20 homes, a general store and a police station in the community of Fox Lake. Residents were evacuated by boat and helicopter.
Residents of the town of Edson, which has a population of more than 8,000, have also been ordered “to evacuate immediately”.
In recent years, Western Canada has been repeatedly hit by extreme weather events, the intensity and frequency of which have increased due to global warming.
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