Hundreds more ordered to flee B.C. wildfires
In Ontario, more First Nations evacuated
Hundreds more British Columbians have joined the thousands already forced from their homes by wildfires as several local governments ordered residents to get out Tuesday night ahead of nearby blazes.
The Regional District of Kootenay Boundary declared a local state of emergency and ordered 122 properties evacuated, while residents in another 304 properties have been put on alert as the 20-square-kilometre Nk'mip Creek wildfire sweeps east, parallel to the U.S. border.
The fire, sparked Monday, has already forced evacuations between the south Okanagan towns of Oliver and Osoyoos.
It's one of nearly 300 burning across the province, including 39 threatening or highly visible wildfires that the Ministry of Forests says have forced evacuation orders for more than 3,000 properties.
At least half a dozen other evacuation orders were issued Tuesday night, including one affecting the community of Fauquier in southeastern B.C., while a large part of the Shuswap district of Sicamous was also evacuated and more homes are on alert after a vehicle crash caused a fire that spread to nearby bush.
A provincial state of emergency took effect in B.C. at midnight as Public Safety Minister Mike Farnworth says expected strong winds have the potential to whip up existing wildfires and force mass evacuations.
B.C. Premier John Horgan says officials are in talks with the United States and Australia about potential support, but COVID-19 and the wildfire situation elsewhere is limiting the help that's available.
Horgan made the comments during a news conference Wednesday from Castlegar, where he was touring the BC Wildfire Service's Southeast Fire Centre.
The premier says the wildfires have ignited just as British Columbia's tourism industry was hoping to begin its recovery from the pandemic, but he promised the province will work with industry and labour groups to support them.
He encouraged anyone with trips planned near the fire zones to check with local resources, including their accommodation providers, to ensure it's safe to travel before leaving.
More than 3,000 firefighters and support staff are on the fire lines, including crews from Alberta, New Brunswick and Quebec, while about 100 firefighters from Mexico are due to arrive this weekend and the federal government is sending 350 Canadian Armed Forces members.
Farnworth says he welcomes the help from the military because B.C.'S available resources are fully assigned.
“Air support from Canadian Forces has already proved invaluable in moving crews and equipment throughout the province and aiding in precautionary evacuations,” he said in a news release.
The statement does not say when the Armed Forces crews will arrive in B.C., but it says they will be assigned to hold existing fire lines, suppress hot spots and build new fire lines on the highest priority blazes.
The Canadian Armed Forces will also be assisting with the growing number of wildfires in Manitoba.
Public Safety Minister Bill Blair tweeted late Tuesday that up to 120 military members are being sent to the province.
Four First Nations in the eastern part of the province were evacuated to Winnipeg and Brandon this week due to the wildfires and smoke.
The Canadian Red Cross says more than 1,300 residents have had to leave their communities.
A special air-quality alert remains in effect for most of the province.
There are 130 active wildfires, with about two dozen classified as out of control.
Meanwhile, residents from two more First Nations in northwestern Ontario were being evacuated Wednesday due to the threat posed by growing wildfires in the region. The province says vulnerable residents from North Spirit Lake First Nation and Cat Lake First Nation are being evacuated at the request of community leaders.
The latest evacuations come after residents from three other First Nations had to leave their communities due to nearby wildfires a few weeks ago.
In total, about 2,582 evacuees from Poplar Hill First Nation, Deer Lake First Nation and Pikangikum First Nation have gone to host communities like Timmins, Thunder Bay and Sudbury.
AIR SUPPORT FROM CANADIAN FORCES HAS ALREADY PROVED INVALUABLE.