More than 35,000 residents under evacuation orders across province, while flames are being held at bay 15km from Yellowknife in Northwest Territories
Canada will send in armed forces to tackle fast-spreading wildfires in British Columbia, prime minister Justin Trudeau has said, as more than 35,000 people were put under evacuation orders in the western province.
Canadian ministers and other government officials urged residents living in evacuation order zones to take immediate action in the interest of their own lives and those of firefighters. About 140,000 sq km of land – roughly the size of New York state – had already been scorched nationwide, with smoky haze extending as far as the US east coast. Government officials project that the fire season could stretch into autumn due to widespread drought-like conditions.
A helicopter drops water as the McDougall Creek wildfire burns in West Kelowna, British Columbia, on Saturday.Flames were being held at bay 15km from the city, but firefighters were not close to declaring victory, especially with drier and windier weather forecast for the coming days.
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