VANCOUVER, Canada (AP) — The fire department reported some progress against blazes in a region of British Columbia known for its picturesque resort towns, but hundreds of other blazes ravaging other parts of Canada have forced thousands of people to evacuate their homes and threaten the territorial capital hundreds of kilometers (miles) to the north.

West Kelowna Fire Chief Jason Broland said Sunday’s efforts in the Okanagan Lake area offered “a glimmer of hope” for the area that is usually a popular summer vacation destination.

More than 2,000 kilometers (1,200 miles) away, firefighters were battling flames ravaging Yellowknife, the capital of the Northwest Territories. The fire continued about 15 kilometers from the town, which remained virtually empty as almost all of its 20,000 residents fled.

“Even though things have dried out and fire behavior has increased, we have been able to do a good job of suppressing the air and limiting the spread,” the fire information officer said Sunday , Mike Westwick.

Wildfires in Canada have reached a record level this year, sending clouds of smoke as far as the United States. In total, there were more than 5,700 fires that burned more than 137,000 square kilometers (53,000 square miles) across Canada, according to the Canadian Forest Care Centre.

Hundreds of fires continue to rage in British Columbia and 35,000 people were ordered to evacuate on Sunday.

“This is still a very dynamic fire,” said BC Fire Marshal Jerrad Schroeder. “There are still parts of this fire that we haven’t prioritized.”

Even when evacuees return, “they may not have anything,” Broland said.

“Some of you lost your homes, there’s no doubt about that,” he said. “There are backyards where the fire has reached the furniture. And it stopped there thanks to the work of the 500 people fighting there.

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced the approval of British Columbia’s request for federal assistance.

“There are people fleeing to save their lives. “She is worried about her communities, and Canadians from coast to coast are watching in horror as images of apocalyptic devastation,” Trudeau said at a news conference Monday in Cornwall, Island. -Prince Edward.

Trudeau is scheduled to meet with his ministers on Monday to discuss firefighting.

In a Facebook post, Yellowknife officials said they were working to erect fire barriers around the city and use sprinklers, water cannons and retardants dropped from small planes. Firefighters managed to erect a 25-kilometer (15.5-mile) barrier.

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Haigh reported from Norwich, Connecticut.