Firefighters in western Canada are bracing for the likely arrival this week of an intense wildfire in the mostly evacuated town of Fort Nelson.
Mayor Rob Fraser of the Northern Rockies Regional Municipality, where Fort Nelson is located, told the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation that firefighters are “bombing” Fort Nelson with water.
“They’re dropping water with helicopters,” he said. “We’ve got local crews with CATS (caterpillar tractors) and equipment, building firebreaks. ... It's all-hands-on-deck.”
Canada experienced its worst wildfire season ever last year. This year’s wildfire season follows one of the country's warmest winters, with little to no snow in several locations — conditions conducive to creating wildfires — and a long, hot Canadian summer.
The wildfire heading toward Fort Nelson is just about 1.6 kilometers (1 mile) away. However, fire crews and emergency workers are in the town, prepared for a “last stand,” Fraser said, if and when the fire does arrive.
"The forecast that I hear is that we're going to get a westerly flow, which could bring the fire closer to the community,” Fraser said. “Some fields outside the town could slow the fire’s approach, but if we get 40 kph (24 mph) gusts, it won't take very long."
About 100 out of the remote town’s approximately 3,400 residents have remained behind, but emergency officials are urging them to leave.
Bowinn Ma, British Columbia’s minister of emergency management, said drought conditions have persisted since last year, and rain is not in the forecast.
"The wildfire has grown to almost 53 square kilometers,” said Ben Boghean, a fire behavior specialist at the British Columbia Wildfire Service. He said the fire could threaten the crews already battling a nearby fire.
Fraser also warned the public that water and electricity may be in short supply or stopped altogether.
The Canadian Interagency Forest Fire Center counted about 143 active wildfires across Canada on Sunday, including 39 that are thought to be out of control.
Canada had a record number of wildfires last year that forced more than 250,000 people to evacuate.
Canada’s wildfires have created a haze over portions of the U.S., including Minnesota, forcing the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency on Sunday to issue its first air quality alert for the season for the entire state.
Some information for this report came from Reuters.
