More than 1,000 wildfires are burning across Canada, with British Columbia declaring a state of emergency on Friday, and thousands of residents in Yellowknife being forced to leave their homes.
Rapidly intensifying wildfires put British Columbia residents on high alert.
Smoke could be seen billowing from the hills and mountains above west Kelowna, where thousands were forced to flee.
The province-wide firefight has triggered a provincial state of emergency.
B.C. Premier David Eby made the announcement Friday, saying the wildfire situation has evolved and deteriorated rapidly.
“British Columbians know that right now, we are facing the worst wildfire season in our province’s history…we are declaring a provincial state of emergency to ensure that we have rapid access to any tools we need to respond to this situation,” Eby said.
The state of emergency lets the province enact emergency orders, including travel restrictions to keep roads clear for first responders.
“These tools are necessary to support communities, to support families, and to support those brave, front-line workers who are battling the fires in our forests and in our communities,” Eby said.
Meanwhile, most residents have fled Yellowknife following this week’s evacuation order to a wildfire within 15 kilometers of the territorial capital.
Satellite images from this week show smoke blanketing the remote city.
Emergency teams, firefighters, utility workers, and the R.C.M.P. are among those who remain there.
Many evacuees have travelled to different areas of Alberta and some were also being flown to Manitoba.
One resident said they moved out to Yellowknife in 1976 and have never ever seen a wildfire season like this.
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau spoke to media on Saturday after a visit to an evacuation centre for Northwest Territory residents, saying the federal government would be there in the coming months and years to help communities rebuild.
“The federal government is there with the significant military assets. We’re coordinating the air evacuations, we’re making sure that we’re there to respond to all the needs of community now, and we’ll be there in the coming months and years as we look to keep people safe moving forward even as we rebuild in places where there are terrible losses.”
Experts say climate change has exacerbated the wildfire problem. Drought has been a contributing factor to the number and intensity of this year’s fires.
Much of Canada has seen abnormally dry conditions.
