‘Grim situation’ in Canada’s British Columbia as wildfires intensify
Al JazeeraAuthorities in western Canada have implored tens of thousands of people to heed evacuation orders and warned of difficult days ahead as “severe and fast-changing” forest fires in the province of British Columbia intensified further. “We are still in some critically dry conditions and are still expecting difficult days ahead,” said Jerrad Schroeder, deputy fire centre manager at the Kamloops Fire Centre. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, who convened a meeting of key ministers and senior officials on Saturday to discuss the blazes, said he has spoken with the province’s premier about the “rapidly evolving and incredibly devastating wildfire situation” and pledged federal resources in responding to the disaster. “I drive a white vehicle, and when I walked out to get in my car… it’s just black… It’s devastating to the community.” The escalation in BC comes as the northern Canadian city of Yellowknife evacuated most of its roughly 20,000 residents due to a large approaching blaze.