Alberta Province in Canada Declares State of Emergency for Forest Fires
Wildfires in the Canadian province of Alberta have forced more people to flee their homes and resulted in a state of emergency being declared. According to Alberta Provincial Prime Minister Danielle Smith, nearly 122,000 hectares of forests have been burned so far, and the federal government is on standby to offer support if needed. The number of active forest fires has increased to 110, with around 300 firefighters and teams from other states doing everything in their power to contain them. Approximately 25,000 people have already evacuated and are now being housed in gyms, fairgrounds, and community centers, while the Alberta State Department of Health has temporarily closed the Edson Health Center due to its proximity to the fire areas. Fire Response Center spokesperson, Christie Tucker, said that the hot and dry weather conditions are making the fires worse, and it’s an “unprecedented crisis.” The evacuees are being provided with free temporary housing, food services, clothing, health care, and care for their animals.
