After wildfires ravaged the province of Alberta in western Canada, forcing over 25,000 people from their homes, Alberta proclaimed a state of emergency.
Danielle Smith, the premier of Alberta, described the situation as “unprecedented” in the face of more than 100 wildfires.
More than 8,000 people live in the town of Edson, and they were instructed to leave right now.
According to Ms. Smith, a hot, dry spring had produced “so much kindling” and had already caused the burning of 122,000 hectares (301,000 acres).
Strong winds are causing several of the fires to blaze out of control.
The worst-affected places are Fox Lake, some 550 kilometres north of the city, where 20 homes were destroyed by fire, and Drayton Valley, which is located about 140 kilometres (87 miles) west of the provincial capital Edmonton.
Air tankers and firefighting helicopters have been dispatched, and the federal government has pledged its support from Ottawa.
More than 1,000 evacuees are being housed at the Edmonton Expo Centre, while a curling rink in the village of High Level is being converted into a temporary shelter.
Although Alberta is a significant oil-producing region, oil facilities do not now seem to be under immediate threat.
