Toronto, May 5 (ZXS) -- As the weather heats up, wildfires are spreading in many parts of Canada. Natural Resources Canada's new National Wildfires report shows that the number of wildfires nationwide is well above the annual average and nearly 30 times the average area burned over the same period in the past 10 years.
According to the National Wildfire Situation Report, Canada is currently in a national level 5 disaster preparedness state, which means that national resources can respond comprehensively, and the demand for resources is at an extreme level, while the demand is conducive to international resources.
So far this year, nearly 1600 wildfires have been recorded across Canada, and the cumulative area of wildfires has exceeded 200 million hectares.
Nova Scotia is the latest province to declare a serious wildfire. Nearly 800 hectares of fires in and around the capital Halifax have destroyed buildings and more than 1,6 people have been affected by evacuation orders. In Shelburne County, more than 6000,<> hectares of forest were affected.
The provincial government of Nova Scotia announced a province-wide ban on burning on May 5, tentatively until late June. Anyone who violates the ban will be prosecuted under the province's forest law. The province warned that the fires were moving and spreading rapidly and that people needed to stay away. Officials also asked people not to use drones in fire areas. At the same time, the province will provide subsidies to families who need to be evacuated due to fires.
Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau responded to the media on the same day that the federal government is ready to do everything it can to help the people of Nova Scotia.
In Alberta, wildfires have spiralled to a state of emergency declared in the province since early May. At present, the overall fire situation has eased slightly, but it is still continuing. A total of nearly 5,3 people in the province have been forced to evacuate. More than 2800,<> people are still fighting fires in the province, including firefighters from other Canadian provinces, as well as the United States, Australia and New Zealand, and Canadian military support personnel.
In addition, according to the national wildfire situation report, Saskatchewan, British Columbia, Ontario, New Brunswick, Prince Edward Island and the Northwest Territories have implemented fire bans or evacuated residents to varying degrees. (End)