Canada Sends Armed Forces to Fight Wildfires in British Columbia
August 20 (Reuters) – Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced on Sunday that Canada is deploying armed forces to combat the rapidly spreading wildfires in British Columbia. The western province is grappling with extremely dry conditions and strong winds, which have led to evacuation orders for over 35,000 people.
Late on Friday, British Columbia imposed a state of emergency, granting officials increased powers to address the fire risks. By Saturday, more than 35,000 residents were under evacuation orders, with an additional 30,000 under evacuation alerts.
The McDougall Creek fire, located near the city of Kelowna, which has a population of approximately 150,000 and is about 300 kilometers (180 miles) east of Vancouver, is the main focus of the firefighting efforts. However, other blazes, exacerbated by severe drought, have also been reported closer to the U.S. border and in the U.S. Pacific Northwest.
Government ministers and officials have urged residents in evacuation order zones to take immediate action for their safety and the well-being of the firefighters battling the blazes.
In an effort to provide accommodations for evacuees and firefighters, British Columbia Premier David Eby implemented a ban on non-essential travel on Saturday. Authorities have also advised against traveling to fire zones and operating drones, as they can hinder the work of the firefighters.
The full extent of the damage caused by the wildfires is still unknown, as officials have not released estimates of the number of buildings destroyed.
Trudeau tweeted that the federal government has agreed to send assistance at the request of the B.C. government.
While forest fires are not uncommon in Canada, the scale of the ongoing blazes and their disruptions underscore the severity of this year’s wildfire season, which is considered the worst in the country’s history. Local resources have been stretched thin, prompting federal government assistance and support from 13 countries. Tragically, at least four firefighters have lost their lives while combating the fires.
The scorched area nationwide amounts to approximately 140,000 square kilometers (54,054 square miles), roughly equivalent to the size of New York state. The smoke haze from the fires has even reached the U.S. East Coast. Due to widespread drought-like conditions, government officials anticipate that the fire season may extend into the autumn.
In another inferno, roughly 2,000 kilometers (1,243 miles) north of British Columbia, a wildfire in Yellowknife, the capital city of the Northwest Territories, prompted the evacuation of nearly all of its 20,000 residents last week. However, officials reassured the public that the fire is not expected to reach the city limits by the end of the weekend, thanks to some rain and cooler temperatures that have helped slow its progress.
Evacuee Krista Flesjer, who fled from Yellowknife with her dogs, described her journey as challenging, stating her fear of getting caught in the approaching fires. Her main concern is whether her two-year-old house will survive.
In British Columbia, parts of the TransCanada highway have been closed near Chase, located roughly 400 kilometers (249 miles) northeast of Vancouver, and between Hope, which is 150 kilometers (93 miles) east of Vancouver, and the village of Lytton. The highway serves as the main east-west route for thousands of motorists and truckers heading to Vancouver, Canada’s busiest port.
Kip Lumquist, who works at a gift shop in Craigellachie, a tourist spot along the highway, witnessed the devastation firsthand. The smoke was so thick that the hills, mountains, and trees were completely obscured for two and a half days. Lumquist described the impact on her community as devastating.
The wildfires have not only strained local resources, but they have also drawn assistance from the federal government and support from numerous countries. As the firefighting efforts continue, Canadians remain united in their determination to overcome this unprecedented wildfire season.
Reporting by Denny Thomas; Editing by Kim Coghill and Mark Porter