By Canadian Press

Wildfire roundup: What you need to know about blazes burning across Canada

Jun 7, 2023 | 12:16 PM

Hundreds of wildfires are burning across Canada, prompting widespread evacuations and blanketing cities in smoke. Here’s a look at developments Wednesday:

Ontarians urged not to start campfires

As smoke from wildfires degraded air quality for millions of people across the province, Ontario Premier Doug Ford is urging everyone to refrain from lighting campfires. 

Fifty-four wildfires are burning in Ontario and 29 are not under control.

Ford says half of the fires were started by lighting strikes and the other half were caused by human activity, such as not properly extinguishing campfires.

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Officials say a lot of the smoke blanketing Ontario also is coming from wildfires in Quebec.

Record Quebec fires lead to more evacuations

Officials say Quebec’s wildfire season is the worst on record and the number of evacuees is expected to rise to more than 15,000. 

More than 150 forest fires are burning in the province, with just under 100 considered out of control.

Premier François Legault says about 11,400 people have already been forced from their homes because of the fires and thousands more will likely have to flee the northern Cree town of Mistissini.

The most troublesome areas, Legault says, are in northern Quebec and in the western Abitibi region, where significant rainfall isn’t expected until Monday.

Huge fire in Nova Scotia ‘being held’

Emergency officials say a record-breaking wildfire in southwestern Nova Scotia that has been burning for 11 days is no longer moving. 

The province’s Natural Resources Department says the fire, which grew to be the largest on record in the province, is “being held” and is not expected to move if cool and wet conditions persist. 

The fire, which started May 27 near Barrington Lake, destroyed about 60 homes and cottages and another 150 structures.

About 6,700 people were forced to leave their homes 

Ottawa looking at national disaster agency

The federal government is studying options for creating a new national disaster response agency as Canada is experiencing its worst wildfire season in history.

A senior government source told The Canadian Press that discussions on a new approach are underway and include analyzing the merits of creating a Canadian version of the Federal Emergency Management Agency in the United States.

A new Canadian disaster response agency or team would not just be for fires, but for all disasters, including flooding and major storms.

Canada’s disaster response plans currently involve different levels of government on a case-by-case basis. 

The Canadian Armed Forces has repeatedly been called on to deploy soldiers and equipment to help. The military has warned, however, that its help in a disaster should be a last-ditch response after all other options are exhausted.

Residents can return to N.W.T. First Nation

The K’at’lodeeche First Nation says residents can return to the reserve in the Northwest Territories more than three weeks after they were forced to leave due to a raging wildfire.

The fire is now classified as being under control, but the First Nation says it is still in a state of emergency.

There is no public access to the reserve. Power, water and sewer services have yet to resume.

The community was ordered to evacuate May 14 and the blaze damaged more than a dozen buildings, including the First Nation’s band office. 

‘Code red’ air alerts in Washington

Officials in the U.S. capital have issued a “code red” air quality alert, as smoke from wildfires in Quebec and Ontario continues to drift south. 

The D.C. Department of Energy and Environment describes the air quality as “very unhealthy” and is urging people to remain indoors if possible.

More than a dozen states in the northeastern U.S. are under similar alerts, with schools in New York City and Washington cancelling outdoor activities.

Poor visibility due to smoke was predicted to reach as far south as North Carolina by day’s end.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published June 7, 2023.

The Canadian Press