Over 25,000 individuals in central Canada have been compelled to evacuate their residences due to numerous wildfires, severely affecting air quality and visibility, including areas in some bordering US states.
Approximately 17,000 residents from Manitoba, which declared a state of emergency last week, have been relocated, alongside around 8,000 from Saskatchewan and roughly 1,300 from Alberta. Officials caution that more evacuations may occur.
The Public Safety Agency of Saskatchewan noted that air quality and visibility can change rapidly due to wildfire smoke, stating, “As smoke levels increase, health risks also escalate.”
A water bomber drops a load on the Nopiming Provincial Park wildfire in Manitoba. Pic: Manitoba Government
The Premier of Saskatchewan, Scott Moe, attributed the situation to recent hot and dry weather, expressing concerns that the resources available for firefighting and assisting evacuees are becoming increasingly strained.
Mr. Moe informed reporters that the upcoming four to seven days are “crucial in determining our path to a change in weather patterns, ultimately leading to much-needed rainfall in the region.”
More than 5,000 individuals have had to leave Flin Flon, located approximately 400 miles northwest of the provincial capital, Winnipeg.
Firefighters have been challenged to manage the fire endangering the town, which ignited near Creighton in Saskatchewan a week ago but quickly spread into Manitoba.
Aerial firefighting efforts have faced interruptions due to heavy smoke conditions and drone activity.
As of Friday, there were 175 active fires reported, with 95 being out of control, according to the Canadian Interagency Forest Fire Centre.
A mandatory evacuation order was issued in Cranberry Portage, a northern Manitoba community with about 600 residents, following power outages caused by the fire.
The US Department of Agriculture’s Forest Service has dispatched an air tanker to Alberta and announced plans to send 150 firefighters and equipment to assist in Canada.
On Sunday, unhealthy air quality levels were recorded in North Dakota and select regions of Montana, Minnesota, and South Dakota, as per the US Environmental Protection Agency’s AirNow page.
US National Weather Service meteorologist Bryan Jackson indicated that residents can anticipate “at least a couple more waves of Canadian smoke to pass through the US over the coming week.”
Additionally, a fire in the US border state of Idaho consumed 50 acres, resulting in road closures, according to Idaho State Police.
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Evacuation centers have been established throughout Manitoba for those escaping the wildfires, including one as far south as Winkler, just 12 miles from the US border.
Canada’s wildfire season spans from May to September, with the most severe incidents occurring in 2023, when heavy smoke spread across North America, causing notably ominous, orange-hued skies in New York.