Massive Wildfires Force Over 24,000 Evacuations in Alberta; State of Emergency Raised

Government officials in Alberta, Canada, reported that wildfires in the province have resulted in the evacuation of over 24,000 residents.

Premier Danielle Smith of Alberta issued a provincial state of emergency on Saturday after multiple wildfires consumed almost 300,000 acres, UPI reported.

Over 100 fires were reported by the Alberta Emergency Management Agency, up from 92 on Friday. In response, 14 counties and communities, including the Beaver Lake Cree Nation, have also declared states of emergency.

Smith referred to the wildfire outbreak as "unprecedented" and emphasized that the public's safety should come first.

The biggest wildfire, EWF-031, ravaged more than 59,000 acres around Edson, according to the AEMA, while wildfire EWF-030 in Fox Lake destroyed 20 residences.

The state of emergency has been declared, giving the provincial government more authority to deploy resources and emergency finances, according to Alberta Premier Danielle Smith, per Al Jazeera.

Immediate evacuations have been ordered for approximately 8,000 residents of Edson, 7,000 of Drayton Valley, and 20 homes in Fox Lake.

Hot Weather To Persist in Alberta

Despite being a major oil-producing region, no oil sands facilities have reported any danger. Alberta is predicted to continue experiencing hot and dry weather, as per a report from Geo News.

According to a federal government fire hazard map, the majority of Alberta, which is now in the midst of an election, a sizeable portion of the Northwest Territories, as well as a large portion of the nearby state of Saskatchewan are at a high risk of fires.

Bill Blair, the minister of federal emergency preparedness, tweeted that Ottawa was ready to provide federal support if necessary.

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Canada, Alberta, Wildfire, Fire, World, State of emergency, Climate change