Home / Editor's Pick /

Canadian fire season: Thousands evacuated as wildfires spread

11:00
15 May 2024

Canadian fire season
Thousands evacuated as wildfires spread

Large plumes of smoke rise from a wildfire in the forests of Canada's British Columbia.Huge plumes of smoke rise over British Columbia as the Parker Lake wildfire approaches Fort Nelson. - © picture alliance

Thousands of people have been evacuated as wildfires spread in Canada's British Columbia, though rain will soon arrive.

In scenes becoming a regular occurrence in warmer months, more than 3,500 people have been evacuated in north-west Canada.

A wildfire, believed to have been ignited by a felled tree, is around 1.5 km away from the settlement of Fort Nelson.

Dry weather conditions in the build-up to the blaze resulted in dry vegetation, primed to ignite.

As this fire approaches Fort Nelson, spreading over 5,280 hectares, separate fires are also burning in Alberta where around 6,000 people have been evacuated.

Rainfall is expected later this afternoon, helping calm the fires as emergency personnel work on the ground.

Last year, Canada saw a record high number of wildfires. Which saw thick smoke descend over parts of the US, and hundreds of thousands of Canadians evacuated throughout the season.

Canadian wildfire season starts earlyread more
Ryan Hathaway
More on the topic
Thursday 26 June 2025

National parks and coasts

Isolated wind warnings in places
summer solstice
Saturday 21 June 2025

Summer solstice

Longest day of the year is here
Tuesday 1 July 2025

Not just the UK

Heatwave grips continental Europe
All weather news
This might also interest you
Sunday 29 June 2025

Your weather - Your shots

Colourful and stormy skylines
Wednesday 2 July 2025

Breakfast brief

Cooler with stormy potential
Monday 30 June 2025

Take precautions

Heatwave takes grip once again
All articles
Weather & Radar

www.weatherandradar.ie

facebooktwitteryouTubeContact uslinkList
Privacy Policy | Legal info | Accessibility statement