Wildfires force 25,000 to flee homes in Canada; US sends help
Officials said the fires are also worsening the air quality in parts of Canada and the United States.
Most of the people who had to leave were from Manitoba, where a state of emergency was declared last week. Over the weekend, about 17,000 people were evacuated from that province. In Alberta, around 1,300 people were evacuated, and in Saskatchewan, about 8,000 people had to leave their homes. Leaders in Saskatchewan warned that the number of evacuations could go up.
Smoke from the wildfires is making it harder to breathe and see clearly in parts of Canada and some U.S. states near the border. Saskatchewan's Public Safety Agency warned over the weekend that "air quality and visibility due to wildfire smoke can change quickly over short distances and from hour to hour." They also said that the health risks get worse as the smoke gets thicker.
Saskatchewan Premier Scott Moe said that help was coming from other provinces and U.S. states, including Alaska, Oregon, and Arizona. Firefighters, emergency workers, and aircraft were being sent to help fight the fires.
"We are truly grateful, and we stand stronger because of you," Moe said in a post on social media.
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