An out-of-control wildfire in Nova Scotia is now the largest in the province’s history, and is still burning out of control.
A fire in the province's southwest region started last weekend and has since covered 181 square kilometres. ~5,000 residents have evacuated, and 50 homes have been destroyed. Officials warn warm weather will make conditions more dangerous in the coming days.
- Around 21,000 Nova Scotians have had to evacuate their homes due to wildfires so far this year.
Why it matters: Wildfires have devastated 27,000 square kilometres of land nationwide this year. That’s 5,400 times (yes, you read that right) more than the 10-year historical average.
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“Similar extreme weather events may continue to increase in both frequency and severity across our country,” said emergency preparedness minister Bill Blair.
- Nearly every province and territory in the country has now experienced wildfires this year.
What’s next: There’s an international effort underway to combat fires across Canada, with firefighters and specialists flying in from both the US and South Africa to be deployed across the country. They’re headed to hotspots in Nova Scotia and Alberta.—TS