10,000 square kilometres of Alberta charred by fires

Wildfire officials say more than 10,000 square kilometres of land has burned in Alberta this year as dozens of wildfires continue across the province.

Christie Tucker of Alberta Wildfire says the province has never seen this much wildfire activity in recorded history.

Tucker says that in 1984, there was a record of 13,000 square kilometres burned over the entire fire season, which usually lasts from the beginning of March to the end of October.

Scattered showers over the past week have given firefighters headway in battling the flames.

There are 71 wildfires burning in Alberta, 20 of which are deemed out of control, and about 10,000 people are out of their homes in various communities.

Bre Hutchinson, executive director of the Alberta Emergency Management Agency, says the wildfire situation remains serious and all Albertans should remain vigilant, especially those who live in areas that under an evacuation alert.

Meanwhile, all evacuation orders related to wildfires in northeastern British Columbia have been lifted or downgraded to evacuation alerts as heavy rain eases the fire danger.

The Peace River Regional District has cancelled orders issued last week affecting properties threatened by the Stoddart Creek fire northeast of Fort St. John.

Officials made the announcement Monday evening, as they also lifted an evacuation order covering properties around the estimated 1,300square-kilometre Donnie Creek fire southeast of Fort Nelson.

Evacuation alerts still cover more than 500 properties in northeastern B.C., but rainfall warnings are now posted for a large part of that region and Environment Canada says up to 100 millimetres is expected to fall before the system eases.