Over 25,000 people across three provinces were displaced due to ongoing wildfire activity on Sunday, with several regions experiencing reduced air quality both in Canada and the United States, authorities reported.
The majority of those who were displaced came from Manitoba, where officials announced a state of emergency earlier in the week. By Saturday, approximately 17,000 individuals had been forced to leave their homes in Manitoba, alongside around 1,300 people in Alberta. In Saskatchewan, roughly 8,000 inhabitants had been moved elsewhere due to warnings from authorities that this figure might increase further.
The smoke was deteriorating air quality and decreasing visibility in Canada as well as in certain U.S. states near the border.
Saskatchewan’s Public Safety Agency cautioned on Sunday that air quality and visibility because of wildfire smoke can change rapidly over small areas and may differ significantly within an hour," they stated. "Health risks escalate as smoke levels rise.
Scott Moe, the Premier of Saskatchewan, stated that firefighting teams, emergency personnel, and aircraft from various regions across Canada and the United States, such as Alaska, Oregon, and Arizona, were dispatched to assist with battling these fires.
"Moe expressed gratitude and stated that they stand stronger due to your support" in a social media post.
He mentioned that persistent hot, arid conditions are enabling certain fires to expand and pose threats to nearby towns, while also stressing the resources allocated for combating these blazes and aiding those who have been evacuated.
"Over the coming four to seven days, it’s crucial that we manage to alter the current weather conditions and eventually receive widespread heavy rainfall across the northern region," Moe stated during a press briefing on Saturday.
In Manitoba, over 5,000 people who were displaced come from Flin Flon, which sits around 645 kilometers (400 miles) northwest of the province’s capital city, Winnipeg. Additionally, in northern Manitoba, wildfires caused a loss of electricity in the town of Cranberry Portage, leading to a compulsory evacuation notice on Saturday affecting approximately 600 inhabitants.
The wildfire threatening Flin Flon ignited about a week ago close to Creighton, Saskatchewan, and swiftly crossed over into Manitoba. Efforts to control the blaze have proven challenging for the crews involved. Additionally, water bombers have had their operations paused from time to time because of dense smoke and an unauthorized drone presence.
The United States Department of Agriculture’s Forest Service has sent an air tanker to Alberta and announced plans to dispatch 150 firefighters along with necessary equipment to Canada.
On Sunday, certain areas within North Dakota experienced "unhealthy" air quality conditions, with minor portions of Montana, Minnesota, and South Dakota also affected, as reported by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s AirNow website.
Bryan Jackson, a meteorologist from the National Weather Service in the U.S., stated that we can anticipate at least another couple of waves of Canadian smoke passing through the country within the upcoming week.
In another incident, a blaze in the U.S. border state of Idaho had consumed at least 100 acres (40 hectares) by Sunday, leading to road closures and partial evacuations, reported the Idaho Department of Lands. According to an official statement, the fire destroyed at least one building, though further specifics regarding the extent of the destruction were not provided.
Powerful gusts ranging from 15 to 20 miles per hour (24 to 32 kilometers per hour), combined with rugged topography, posed significant challenges for the firefighting crews as they attempted to contain the blaze, which erupted on Saturday.
Shelter centers have been established throughout Manitoba for individuals escaping the wildfires, including one located as far south as Winkler, which is about 20 kilometers (12 miles) away from the United States border. In response to managing limited space due to fully booked hotels accommodating various groups such as other wildfire evacuees, tourists, professionals, and attendees of events, Winnipeg has converted several public facilities into accommodation sites for these displaced residents.
The Indigenous leaders from Manitoba stated during a press briefing on Saturday that all available hotel accommodations in the destination cities have been filled due to the influx of evacuees. They urgently appealed to the government to request hotel proprietors prioritize housing for these individuals.
The Assembly of Manitoba Chiefs' Grand Chief Kyra Wilson stated that this evacuation ranks among the biggest in the province since the 1990s.
"It's really sad to see our children having to sleep on floors. People are sitting, waiting in hallways, waiting outside, and right now we just need people to come together. People are tired," Wilson said at a news conference.
The wildfire season in Canada occurs between May and September each year. The most severe wildfire season recorded took place in 2023, during which hazardous smoke blanketed large parts of North America for several months.
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