Wildfires rage across Western Canada
Thousands evacuated in B.C.'S northeast
The northeast British Columbia municipality where thousands have evacuated due to a nearby wildfire was bracing for worsening conditions on Sunday as blazes raged near several communities in Western Canada.
In an update posted early Sunday, the Northern Rockies Regional Municipality warned all remaining residents to leave as fire risks “have escalated to a greater level.”
The update said an incoming weather system would bring strong winds from the west, posing a threat for the community of Fort Nelson, B.C., located just east of the Parker Lake wildfire, which measured 25 square kilometres on Sunday.
Out-of-control blazes were also burning in Alberta near the communities of Fort Mcmurray and Grande Prairie, with the Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalo issuing an alert for Fort Mcmurray residents to be ready to evacuate on short notice.
In Manitoba, another outof-control wildfire near Flin Flon some 760 kilometres northwest of Winnipeg forced the evacuation of a number of homes and cottages in the area. The City of Flin Flon issued a notice saying Highway 10 linking to Cranberry Portage, Man., had been closed.
The wildfires across Western Canada are also creating poor air quality in a number of regions spanning Manitoba to British Columbia, with Environment Canada reporting “very high risk” — or level 10-plus — on the air quality health index for Edmonton and Winnipeg as well as a number of small cities across the Prairies.
The weather agency said other communities seeing or possibly facing very high risk in their air quality included Fort St. John, B.C.; Medicine Hat, Drayton Valley and Cold Lake in Alberta; and Swift Current, Sask.
“Stop or reduce your activity level if breathing becomes uncomfortable or you or someone in your care feel unwell,” Environment Canada said in its air-quality warning, adding people should stay indoors if possible.
In Fort Nelson, B.C., Environment Canada was forecasting winds that dropped to as low as two km/h on Saturday to pick up by Sunday evening. Forecasters predicted winds would reach 20 km/h, with gusts of up to 50 km/h expected by Monday.
The Northern Rockies Regional Municipality said the wind “has the real potential to significantly increase the size of the fires over the next 48 hours,” and Fort Nelson's emergency operations centre itself was relocating further south.
“Know that the decision to evacuate has not been made lightly and is based on careful assessment and expert advice, with the safety of residents being at the forefront,” the update read.
“At this time, all residents who are currently remaining within the community are strongly urged to reconsider and evacuate immediately. You are our friends, family and neighbours. Please stay safe.”
Elsewhere, an update from Alberta Wildfire said the blaze burning 16 kilometres southwest of Fort Mcmurray had reached 55 square kilometres in size, and fire risks ranged from very high to extreme across much of the northern part of the province.
And in its bulletin on Saturday, the Manitoba government said the fire near Flin Flon was about 30 square kilometres in size, adding help was on the way from outside the province. It said 10 crews from Ontario are scheduled to arrive in Manitoba next week, while Saskatchewan is assisting with fire suppression through the use of air tankers.