Canada sends troops to Nova Scotia to assist in fighting wildfires

By Al Mayadeen English
Source: News websites
2 Jun 2023 15:52

The Canadian government announces that troops will assist Nova Scotia firefighters in containing wildfires that threaten communities on the outskirts of Halifax.

Smoke from the Tantallon wildfire rises over houses in nearby Bedford, Nova Scotia, Canada, May 28, 2023. (Reuters)

Wildfires continue to make their way throughout Canada forcing 28,000 people across the country, of whom 18,000 are in Nova Scotia alone, to evacuate their homes as an unusually dry and early summer weather complicated fire containment efforts by Canadian firefighters.

At this time 211 wildfires are active throughout Canada, 82 of which have been considered out of control. The Canadian armed forces, according to Emergency Preparedness Minister Bill Blair, are set to offer firefighters “who have been working tirelessly around the clock to protect communities right across Nova Scotia” with equipment and personnel.

The troops are headed to Nova Scotia as the province is fighting two major fires threatening communities on the outskirts of the provincial capital Halifax.

“These conditions this early in the season are unprecedented,” Blair said adding that “Due to climate change, similar extreme weather events may continue to increase in both frequency and severity across our country.”

Canada wildfire smoke triggers air quality alerts in Northeastern US

Plumes of smoke were also reported on Wednesday to be heading across the Northeastern US from southeastern Canada's Nova Scotia Province as a result of scorching wildfires, and air quality alerts are on in several cities.

For weeks, fires have been burning in Canada as the country experiences high temperatures and unusual wildfire smoke, which is currently heading toward the US, even though the Northwestern states are not usually affected.

The smoke reached New York, Maine, and Connecticut, strongly affecting Rhode Island and Massachusetts, where air quality alerts were issued.

Some in Boston reported that they were able to "smell burning" from the Halifax fire that destroyed over 150 homes and forced around 16,500 residents to evacuate.

Air quality alerts reached parts of New Jersey and Pennsylvania on Wednesday, and the National Weather Service warned on Tuesday night that winds could "bring some of this smoke into the Mid-Atlantic region."