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Drama in Canada: Forest fires threaten tens of thousands - state of emergency declared!
Current wildfires in Canada are prompting evacuations in Manitoba and Saskatchewan. State of emergency declared, drought endangers habitats.
Drama in Canada: Forest fires threaten tens of thousands - state of emergency declared!
The forest fire situation in Canada has worsened significantly in recent days. The provinces of Saskatchewan and Manitoba, both of which have declared states of emergency, are particularly affected. Loud Stuttgart News Saskatchewan Premier Scott Moe describes the situation as possibly the worst the country has ever seen. There are currently 16 active forest fires in Saskatchewan, including the Shoe Fire, which covers an area of around 300,000 hectares, about four times the size of Hamburg.
The evacuations are taking on dramatic dimensions: around 2,000 people in Saskatchewan and around 17,000 in Manitoba have had to leave their homes. In Manitoba, this is considered the largest evacuation operation in the province's history. The emergency measures allow the government to request support from the central government, including military aid. This is urgently needed, initially to coordinate necessary evacuation services and to provide firefighting resources.
Forest fires and their causes
The exact origin of the fires is still unclear, but there are suggestions that some fires may have been started by hot parts of off-road vehicles. In Manitoba, for example, there are 22 active fires, with a particularly dangerous fire in the town of Flin Flon, 643 km northwest of Winnipeg, having already reached an area of around 20,000 hectares. An evacuation of the approximately 5,000 residents in this city is also recommended.
What is concerning is the fact that wildfire activity is well above average this year. There have been 102 fires recorded in Manitoba so far, while the average is 77. This situation is made even worse by the ongoing drought and high temperatures. The annual wildfire season, which runs from May to September, is particularly serious this year.
Forest firefighters are also under pressure in other provinces. A state of emergency has also been declared in Alberta and firefighters are battling unprecedented fires in Nova Scotia. Loud Keldakersley Around 100,000 people in Canada are affected by these climate-related refugee movements. Quebec has also asked for support to fight the flames.
There are currently 134 active fires across Canada, half of which are out of control. This alarming development is already leading to temporary production halts in the oil and gas industry in Alberta. Last year, over 15 million hectares of land burned and more than 230,000 people had to be evacuated daily news reported. This year's wildfire season could once again shape Canada's history and poses enormous challenges for the national fire service.