In Canada, where the “forest fire season” started early due to global warming, it was reported that approximately 3 million hectares of forest area burned due to the fires that have been going on for days. Smoke reached as far as New York.
COMPLETELY COVERED THE CITY
AirNow, a website affiliated with the US government, changed the air quality level from orange to 165 red in and around New York City. While the smell of fire fumes in New York, which causes hazy air all day long, is felt, the authorities warn people not to go out, especially those with heart, lung and respiratory diseases. Air pollution caused by forest fires completely covered the city.
FIRE GUARDS FROM OTHER COUNTRIES ARE GOING TO CANADA
According to local media reports, Emergency Preparedness Minister Bill Blair said in a statement that forest fires in Canada affected many parts of the country. Blair stated that the average of forest fires in the last 10 years was only 150 thousand hectares in May, but this year, about 3 million hectares of forest area was destroyed in the same period.
Stating that military personnel have been deployed to the region to help respond to the fires that have been going on in the Nova Scotia region of Canada since Sunday, Blair emphasized that everyone working has done an extraordinary job, but that more help is needed.
Blair stated that 2,400 firefighters, 800 from the USA, 224 from Australia and New Zealand, fought forest fires only in Alberta province, while 215 firefighters from South Africa would come to Canada in a short time.
82 CANNOT BE CONTROLLED
Canadian Minister of Natural Resources, Jonathan Wilkinson, stated that 211 fires have occurred throughout the country so far, 82 of them could not be brought under control, and cooling and other works are continuing in the rest.
Emphasizing that forest fires are expected to double by 2050 due to climate change, Wilkinson said that the government has invested in additional measures in this context.
THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE HAVE BEEN DISCHARGED
In Canada’s Alberta province, 29 thousand people were evacuated from their homes due to forest fires that started on May 6. Alberta Provincial Prime Minister Danielle Smith announced that they had declared a state of emergency in the province.
It was announced that approximately 14 thousand people were evacuated and more than 200 buildings were damaged due to the forest fires that have been going on since 28 May in the Nova Scotia region of southeastern Canada. (AA)