Western Canada is grappling with its first major wildfires of the season, with flames spreading rapidly and forcing thousands to evacuate. Authorities issued urgent orders in British Columbia (BC) and Alberta as air quality warnings blanketed the region.
In BC, over 3,500 residents near Fort Nelson and the Northern Rockies Regional Municipality fled their homes after a wildfire engulfed 2,483 hectares. Fort Nelson First Nation also evacuated its Indigenous community of Fontas, just 7 km from the blaze. Meanwhile, Alberta’s Fort McMurray—still scarred by 2016’s devastating fires—is on high alert as a 5,500-hectare inferno rages nearby.
Alberta officials reported deploying six wildfire crews, 13 helicopters, and airtankers to battle the flames, which were sparked by a fallen tree hitting a power line. While cooler temps briefly slowed the fire, experts warn rising heat could reignite its spread.
Canada’s federal government predicts a “catastrophic” wildfire season ahead, fueled by El Niño-driven heat and a snowless winter. With drought conditions lingering, communities brace for a summer that could mirror 2023’s record-breaking disasters.
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