Some 25,000 people from Canada They were forced to leave their homes due to the 103 wildfires that broke out in the western province of Alberta, where the local government declared a state of emergency on Saturday (05.06.2023).

Thousands more have been warned to be ready to leave their homes at any time. “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 most important oil-producing regions, “is experiencing a dry spring and hot and, with so much firewood, a few sparks are enough to start truly terrifying wildfires,” he had pointed out earlier.

“These conditions have resulted in the unprecedented situation our province faces today,” he added. 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,” the official 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 risk, according to a federal government fire danger map. Federal Emergency Preparedness Minister Bill Blair tweeted that Ottawa stands ready to provide 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 fire crews battled a wildfire. Some 550 kilometers north of the provincial capital, a serious fire engulfed 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 the global warming.

likes (afp, dpa)