More than 25,000 residents across three Canadian provinces have been forced to flee their homes as dozens of wildfires continued to burn on Sunday, sending thick smoke across the border and degrading air quality in parts of the United States.
The hardest-hit province, Manitoba, declared a state of emergency and has evacuated around 17,000 people so far. Saskatchewan reported 8,000 evacuations, with numbers expected to rise, while Alberta saw another 1,300 people relocated. Officials say smoke from the fires is rapidly shifting conditions, posing serious health and visibility risks.
“Air quality and visibility due to wildfire smoke can fluctuate over short distances and vary considerably from hour to hour,” Saskatchewan’s Public Safety Agency warned.
Saskatchewan Premier Scott Moe said reinforcements are arriving from other provinces and US states including Alaska, Oregon, and Arizona to assist in firefighting. “We are truly grateful, and we stand stronger because of you,” Moe posted on social media.
He cautioned that the coming week will be critical, with hot and dry weather fueling the spread of fires and putting strain on firefighting resources. “The next four to seven days are absolutely critical,” Moe said Saturday, expressing hope for a change in weather patterns and much-needed rain.
One of the most threatened communities is Flin Flon in Manitoba, where over 5,000 residents have been evacuated. A major fire near Creighton, Saskatchewan crossed into Manitoba and has proven difficult to contain. In Cranberry Portage, a fire knocked out power, prompting a mandatory evacuation of about 600 people.
Efforts to control the fires have been hampered by thick smoke, which grounded water bombers, and a drone incursion that interrupted aerial operations. The US Forest Service has deployed an air tanker to Alberta and plans to send 150 firefighters and equipment to assist.
In the US, air quality reached “unhealthy” levels Sunday in parts of North Dakota, Montana, Minnesota, and South Dakota. Meteorologists warned that more waves of Canadian smoke are expected over the next week.
Meanwhile, a wildfire in Idaho, near the Canadian border, burned at least 100 acres by Sunday, forcing road closures and limited evacuations.
Gusty winds and rugged terrain have complicated containment efforts.
Evacuation centers have opened throughout Manitoba, including one as far south as Winkler near the US border. Winnipeg is housing evacuees in public buildings, with hotels stretched thin due to a mix of displaced residents, tourists, and event visitors.
Indigenous leaders in Manitoba are calling for government action to prioritize hotel accommodations for evacuees. “It’s really sad to see our children having to sleep on floors,” said Assembly of Manitoba Chiefs Grand Chief Kyra Wilson. “Right now we just need people to come together. People are tired.”
Canada’s wildfire season typically runs from May through September.
2023 season was the worst on
record, blanketing large parts of North America in hazardous smoke for months.
Erizia Rubyjeana
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