Wildfires in western Canada have prompted evacuation orders and alerts just days after officials warned of a “significant risk” from this summer’s natural hazards.
A fire near Fort McMurray, Alta., expanded to 1,000 hectares on Saturday from around 200 hectares on Friday and is currently listed as out-of-control.
The Alberta government has declared the wildfire danger “extreme” and issued an evacuation alert for Fort McMurray and Saprae Creek. Residents are advised to be ready to evacuate at short notice and to keep essential items such as medications, important documents, and emergency kits prepared.
Late Friday, a notice stated that strong winds were expected on Saturday, and helicopters monitored the wildfire overnight. The fire was approximately 25 kilometers southwest of Fort McMurray as of Friday evening.
An evacuation order was also issued for Grand Prarie County No. 1 on Friday evening due to a wildfire burning about four kilometers east of Teepee Creek, moving away from the community. Evacuees were directed to travel north and register at the Pomeroy Hotel and Conference Centre, bringing pets, important documents, medications, medical devices, and supplies for at least seven days.
In British Columbia, the Northern Rockies Regional Municipality issued an evacuation order for the town of Fort Nelson due to a wildfire threatening human life. Evacuees are directed to head to the Fort St. John reception center.
As of Saturday, the Parker Lake wildfire had grown to nearly 1,700 hectares. The BC Wildfire Service reported that the fire, discovered Friday afternoon, was burning about 12 kilometers from the Highway 77 junction. By evening, it had expanded to 800 hectares and was listed as “out of control” and displaying “extreme fire behavior.”
Challenging local conditions hindered suppression efforts, according to the wildfire service. The fire is suspected to be human-caused, and ground crews and air support, including nine helicopters with buckets, are battling the blaze.
Smoke has spread to other populated areas, with Edmonton registering an air quality index of 235 AQI US, indicating “very unhealthy”
As of Sunday, the Northwest Territories reported seven active wildfires affecting more than 1,800 hectares. The largest fire is about 70 kilometers from the community of Jean Marie River and is rapidly expanding. The fire has reportedly disrupted 911 service for a significant portion of the north.
Government officials have warned of potential damage due to warm temperatures and drought. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, during a visit to B.C. on Friday, emphasized the need for Canada to be more prepared and coordinated for wildfires this year, given forecasts indicating a potentially severe forest fire season in western and northern Canada.
Officials cautioned that the situation could deteriorate rapidly, given the persistent drought conditions affecting much of Canada over the past 12 months. The wildfire forecast for May predicts high or extreme fire severity in Saskatchewan and Alberta, with above-normal fire activity expected in various regions, including Eastern B.C., central/northern Prairies, southern Northwest Territories, eastern Ontario, and western Quebec.
In June, heightened monitoring will extend to the Northwest Territories, Yukon, and B.C., with a broader area of high or extreme severity anticipated. Western Canada is expected to remain a hotspot.
Environment and Climate Change Canada forecasts a high probability of above-normal temperatures from May to July, with drought conditions expected in high-risk regions in May, including the northern Prairies and Interior B.C.
Last year, Canadian wildfires burned 18.5 million hectares of land, marking the worst wildfire season on record, surpassing the previous record set in 1989.