The fires have consumed large areas of forests in eastern Canada over the past days, and their intensity has increased in recent hours, especially in the Tantalon fire, which was not limited to agricultural areas, but swept many homes and led to the displacement of thousands of citizens.

According to Canadian authorities, more than 16,<> people were forced to evacuate their homes in the province of Nova Scotia after several fires raging in the country threatened residential areas near the city of Halifax.

The blaze has been out of control northwest of Halifax since Sunday night, when authorities declared a state of emergency, urging suburban residents to remain on standby to evacuate their homes at any moment.

Canada: Folks evacuating Tantallon, Nova Scotia.

It's being reported that this fire has the largest resource response in Province history. #canada #novascotia #wildfire pic.twitter.com/4fLBFgWNar

— The Hotshot Wake Up (@HotshotWake) May 28, 2023

Late on Sunday, the municipality of Halifax declared a local emergency in the ocean and areas affected by massive wildfires that caused evacuations, school closures and power outages outside the region.

She ripped... Nova Scotia, Canada. The winds were very strong.

Multiple fires have burned in the province.

Halifax fire has reported that structure loss is immense due to the fire in Tantallon. #canada #tantallonfire #wildfire
📷: @or_bit_eye pic.twitter.com/bSiyl21Pgq

— The Hotshot Wake Up (@HotshotWake) May 29, 2023

The municipality said in its statement that the state of emergency will last 7 days, unless it is lifted or extended, and attributed its cause to climate change and environmental interactions.

She explained that the purpose of this decision is to obtain a higher level of coordination between the authorities, access to discretionary emergency funds, and to be able to obtain appropriate support from organizations and companies to support the evacuated population.

(Environment) A video sent to us from Upper Tantallon earlier. DNR and HRFE crews are working hard on this one. An air quality advisory is in effect via Environment Canada #hfxtraffic pic.twitter.com/Qk17XKI3Bs

— WaterfrontMdaHfx (@HfxMda) May 28, 2023

Several scenes circulated on social media showed the scale of the fires that caused the state of emergency in Canada, specifically Halifax.

Local television channels broadcast scenes showing plumes of smoke surrounding the area and many houses and cars, which were reduced to ashes from the flames. But the fire caused no casualties.

Marianne and her husband Peter Gillespie, who found themselves trapped in flames, said: "We really thought we were going to die."

Upper Tantallon fire from exit 4 off hwy 103. pic.twitter.com/vUApc772Ss

— Jen Britton (@jenniferbritton) May 28, 2023

They told public broadcaster CBC that they fled in their car as ash and sparks were falling on it.

A volunteer firefighter told Radio Canada with tears in his eyes what it felt like "to drive through burned cars and houses."

My son's view as he tried to get home on the Hammonds Plains Road towards Tantallon. He was turned back. Evacuation route is taking us towards Highway 103. #nswildfire pic.twitter.com/YQgF5zmgvS

— Rhonda Brown (@RhondaBrown5) May 28, 2023

Nova Scotia Premier Tim Houston called the province "under pressure", while Halifax Mayor Mike Savage said the fire was "unprecedented."

"We have not expanded the perimeter of the evacuation zone since yesterday, which gives hope that the situation may have stabilized," Savage told a news conference, but stressed that it "remains dangerous."

The Canadian city of Halifax in Nova Scotia declared a state of local emergency after a wildfire caused evacuations and power outages, with authorities shutting several schools in the affected areas https://t.co/X5O5YpgvES pic.twitter.com/Ko8xC3tCJi

— Reuters (@Reuters) May 29, 2023

Authorities said that although the winds that fueled the fire changed direction on Monday and returned the fire to the direction it came from, it was not enough to ward off the danger.

It said rain was the only way fire crews could control the blaze, but no rain was expected this week.

Massive Fire in #Halifax #NovaScotia Over 18000 people evacuated so far. My prayers go out to all first responders fighting and those affected. The fire started yesterday and rages on today. All we can hope for is that the sky opens up and the rain helps put out this #fire. pic.twitter.com/SIoVNLk016

⚡️— CRYPTO SAN さん ⚡️ (@NFTcaper) May 29, 2023

On Monday, bushfires broke out in eight of Canada's 13 provinces and territories.

In recent years, western Canada has been repeatedly exposed to weather events exacerbated by global warming.