The season's first major wildfires spread to nearly 20,000 acres
across western Canada on Sunday as authorities issued an evacuation
order for thousands of residents in British Columbia and warned
of poor air quality across the country. Evacuees lined
up to get emergency support in Fort ST John.
Over the weekend across the border in Alberta, residents
of Fort mcmurray were told to prepare to leave eyewitness
. Video captured on Friday showed fire blocking a highway
that connects Alberta to the northwest territories. Authorities in
Alberta said six crews of firefighters along with 13 helicopters
and air tankers were working to tame the fire on
Sunday. They said the blaze had subdued but was
expected to spread again as the temperatures soar. Meanwhile
, Canada's weather service issued a special air statement extending
from British Columbia to Ontario on Sunday. The federal
government warned of another catastrophic wildfire season as it forecast
higher than normal spring and summer temperatures boosted by El
Nino weather conditions. Canada experienced one of its warmest
winters with low to non existent snow in many areas
, raising fears that a hot summer would trigger wildfires
amid an ongoing drought