Wildfires in Nova Scotia, Canada, are ‘out of control’, forcing 16,000 people from their homes

() — Raging wildfires that have swept thousands of acres have forced more than 16,000 Canadians to evacuate their homes and prompted a burning ban in Nova Scotia, where record high temperatures are breaking.

Authorities say the fires, which span a total of more than 10,000 hectares and are considered “out of control” by authorities, have destroyed several buildings and caused huge plumes of smoke to billow over the region. Until this Monday, more than 16,000 people had been forced to evacuate the surroundings of Halifax, the largest city in Nova Scotia.

The number of people who have been forced to leave their homes amounts to about 16,429, said Erica Fleck, head of the Halifax Regional Municipality’s Emergency Management division, at a press conference on Monday.

Officials also said about 400 people have been evacuated from Shelbourne County in southwestern Nova Scotia.

The flames have damaged at least 200 homes or structures, the Halifax Township said in a Facebook post, citing initial visual inspections by first responders.

“Our hearts go out to everyone affected by these fires,” Nova Scotia Premier Tim Houston said. “We know they are experiencing uncertainty and distress. We see it and want to try to alleviate a small part of the financial stress.”

Each household that has to evacuate will receive $500 administered through the Canadian Red Cross, according to a press release issued Monday. The funds are intended to help with what Houston called “urgent needs like food and personal care items.”

Nova Scotia authorities also announced a province-wide burn ban on Monday due to the “severity of the current fires.”

“The ban will remain in effect until June 25 unless the Province determines that it can be lifted earlier,” authorities said in a statement. “Anyone who contravenes the ban may be subject to prosecution under the Forest Law.”

Trudeau: “The situation of forest fires in Nova Scotia is incredibly serious”

Meanwhile, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau called the wildfires “incredibly serious” in a tweet on Monday.

“We stand ready to provide any necessary federal support and assistance,” Trudeau said. “We have everyone affected in our thoughts, and we are thanking those who are working hard to keep people safe.”

A wildfire burning in the Westwood Hills and Tantallon areas of Nova Scotia is “out of control,” a news release said Monday. The fire currently spreads over some 1,947 hectares.

More than 200 teams from agencies across the province have been dispatched to help fight the blazes. Authorities say 35 fire trucks, two helicopters and a water bomber are being used, and warn that wind gusts of up to 65 km/h could cause the fire to spread.

Another fire, burning in the Barrington Lake and Shelburne County areas of southwestern Nova Scotia, continued to grow rapidly on Monday. The fire, which according to the authorities is also “out of control”, burned almost 10,000 hectares on Monday night, according to a statement. In the statement, the officials noted that “some structures have been destroyed and others are threatened, but there are no firm details on the figures yet for the area.”

As Nova Scotia grapples with the fires, the western province of Alberta has been battling the fire for weeks, reported. According to a statement issued this Sunday by its emergency management department, some 3,501 people remain evacuated and “more than 2,700 troops” continue to fight the flames.

Fire danger in Alberta remains “very high or extreme in the northern regions of the province, moderate to very high in the central and southern regions, and moderate to very high from the central region to the northern slopes of the Mountains.” Rocky,” according to the statement on Sunday.