ThousANDS EVACUATE FROM FAST-MOVING FIRES IN CANADA
Evacuation Orders Active in Alberta, Saskatchewan Provinces
The provinces of Alberta and Saskatchewan issued evacuation orders on May 31 for areas surrounded by wildfires. Residents of Fort McMurray in Alberta and Estevan in Saskatchewan were among those evacuated. Residents of the city of Cold Lake in Alberta were also told to prepare for evacuation. The flames are fueled by dry conditions and high temperatures, and some of them are moving at speeds up to 14 kilometers per hour. Local and provincial authorities are coordinating evacuation efforts and providing assistance to affected residents. The cause of the fires is under investigation.
Thousands of people affected
The wildfires have already impacted thousands of people. KPIX 5 reports that more than 5,000 people have been evacuated in Alberta alone and hundreds more in Saskatchewan. The order affects about 1,800 people in the Fort McMurray area and includes the entire city of Cold Lake, which has a population of more than 5,000 people. Though the fire is still a distance from the city, officials urged residents to evacuate promptly, citing the fire's rapid spread.
Extreme fire behavior
Fire officials noted what they called "extreme fire behavior" on Thursday, which presents challenges to crews trying to control the fires. Officials say that the spread of these fires is exacerbated by high temperatures, dry conditions, and strong winds.
