Canadian fire crews on Thursday battled to prevent wildfires from reaching the northern city of Yellowknife, where all 20,000 residents are leaving by car and plane after an evacuation order was declared.

Water bombers flew low over Yellowknife as thick smoke blanketed the capital of the vast and sparsely populated Northwest Territories. Officials say the fire, which is moving slowly, is now 15 km (10 miles) northwest of the city and could reach the outskirts by Saturday if there is no rain.

Alternate: https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-66526554

  • can@sh.itjust.worksEnglish
    1·
    1 year ago

    Canada is having its worst wildfire season on record, with nearly 1,100 active fires burning across the country as of Wednesday.

    Experts have pointed to a warmer and drier spring than normal as the reason.

    Scientists say climate change increases the risk of the hot, dry weather that is likely to fuel wildfires.

    This is fine

    • rab@lemmy.ca
      1·
      1 year ago

      Area burned is a more alarming stat than amount of fires, too

      The northern Alberta fire burned an area larger than some countries

      • Stochastic@lemmy.ca
        2·
        1 year ago

        8,000 is the average annual total count, usually spread across ~3months (July, Aug, Sept). The 1,100 number quoted is currently burning today. As of August 17 the count (active and extinguished) so far this year was up to 5,765.

        The size of fires is really the staggering figure with 13.75 million hectares (137,500 km² roughly the size of Arkansas or Greece) burned so far, while the average annual total burned area is usually only 2.1 million hectares.