Officials in Alberta, Canada, have declared a state of emergency due to the widespread wildfires that have displaced more than 25,000 people and created what they are calling a “unprecedented” situation. With 110 fires already burning, fueled by high winds, authorities have warned thousands more to be ready to evacuate at a moment’s notice. Thirty-one percent of the fires were reported to be uncontrolled. After a meeting of her government’s emergency management committee on Saturday, Premier Danielle Smith told a press conference, “We’ve declared a provincial state of emergency to protect the safety, health, and welfare of Albertans.”
The province, which is one of the world’s largest oil-producing areas, “has been experiencing a hot, dry spring and with so much kindling, all it takes is a few sparks to ignite some truly frightening wildfires,” she had warned earlier. She said that the province’s current predicament was caused by the aforementioned factors. Smith estimates that at least 20 settlements have been forced to leave, and that at least 122,000 hectares (301,000 acres) have burnt. She said that by declaring a state of emergency, the Alberta government would have “greater powers to respond to extreme situations,” including the ability to mobilize additional resources and access emergency money. According to a federal official fire hazard map, substantial portions of the Northwest Territories, Saskatchewan, and much of bordering Alberta experience severe fire threats. Ottawa is ready to give government aid if required, as tweeted by government Emergency Preparedness Minister Bill Blair. Oil sands facilities kept a watchful eye on the threats, but there were no recorded interruptions in output. About 140 kilometers (87 miles) west of Edmonton, the town of Drayton Valley and its 7,000 inhabitants were evacuated as firefighters battled an out-of-control conflagration. Twenty residences, a local shop, and a police station in the town of Fox Lake were destroyed by a fire 550 kilometers (342 miles) north of the province capital. Those in the area were taken out of harm’s way via boat and helicopter.
With a population of around 8,000, Edson has also been issued a “evacuate immediately” order to its citizens. Global warming has contributed to the increasing frequency and severity of extreme weather events in western Canada in recent years. In 2016, forest fires in Canada’s oil sands area halted production, displaced 100,000 people from Fort McMurray, and devastated the country’s economy. Recent years have seen unprecedented heat in the western Canadian province of British Columbia, killing over 500 people and destroying an entire town due to flames in 2021. Then, terrible floods and mudslides hit the area.
