A hundred fires broke out in the west of the country, forcing tens of thousands of people to leave their homes. The Premier of Alberta evokes an “unprecedented” situation.
The western Canadian province of Alberta declared a state of emergency on Saturday after around 100 wildfires broke out there and drove some 25,000 residents from their homes. an “unprecedented” situation, announced the Premier of the province.
A third of fires out of control
Authorities have asked thousands more to be ready to leave at any time. A total of 110 fires, fanned by strong winds, have been recorded, a third of which are out of control.
“We have declared a provincial state of emergency to preserve the safety, health and well-being of Albertans,” Alberta Premier Danielle Smith said at a press conference.
This Canadian province, one of the largest oil producers in the world, “had a hot and dry spring and with so much kindling, it only takes a few sparks to start some really scary fires,” Danielle explained earlier. Smith.
122,000 hectares burned
All of these factors together “have resulted in the unprecedented situation our province faces today.” About 122,000 hectares have burned, she said, and 20 localities have been evacuated.
The state of emergency gives the provincial government “increased powers to respond to extreme situations”, said Danielle Smith, including the mobilization of additional resources and the release of emergency funds.
Alberta and a significant area of the neighboring province of Saskatchewan, as well as much of the Northwest Territories currently face an extreme risk of fires, according to a map from the federal government.
Drayton Valley, a town of 7,000 people in Alberta about 140 kilometers west of Edmonton, is among the evacuated communities. In Fox Lake, northern Alberta, a massive fire destroyed 20 homes, a store and a police station. Residents were evacuated by boat and helicopter.
