A record level. According to Canadian authorities, the fires that have raged in the country since the beginning of the year have already destroyed more than 2.7 million hectares. This is eight times more than the average area damaged over the past 30 years. After the west of the country and the provinces of Alberta and Saskatchewan in early May, it is the turn of the east of the country with Nova Scotia to be affected by "unprecedented fires". "These conditions, at this point in the season, are absolutely unprecedented and obviously cause for concern," Bill Blair, Canada's Minister of Public Safety, said Thursday, June 1.
Currently, 211 wildfires are raging in the country and 82 are out of control, he said. The onset of an extreme heat wave and high winds in the east could lead to "extreme fire behavior", according to firefighters.
In Nova Scotia, at the heart of all concerns in recent days, 16 fires were active Thursday. One reached the suburbs of the province's main city, Halifax, and forced authorities to evacuate more than 16,000 people northwest of the city. It now seems partially under control.
Another fire near Lake Barrington is under particular scrutiny as it is still out of control after ravaging 20,000 hectares. It is the largest fire ever recorded in the province. More than 2,000 people were ordered to evacuate this area earlier this week, given the spread of fires. "We are far from out of the woods. We are still facing a very dangerous and volatile situation,” explained David Steeves of the Nova Scotia Department of Natural Resources. "We need Mother Nature on our side on this," he added.
