Canada to deploy military to help fight Quebec fires: Trudeau
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As a massive wildfire outbreak explodes across Quebec, Candian authorities are on high alert.
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The extent of damage after Quebec was hit hard by wildfires (AP)
Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced, on Sunday, that the government would bring in the country’s armed forces to aid the Quebec authorities in extinguishing ongoing wildfires in the province.
"We’re going to deploy the Canadian armed forces’ members to help support Quebec’s response to the ongoing wildfires and to provide firefighting resources," Trudeau tweeted.
Update: We’re going to deploy @CanadianForces members to help support Quebec’s response to the ongoing wildfires and to provide firefighting resources.
— Justin Trudeau (@JustinTrudeau) June 3, 2023
He added that he contacted Mayor Steeve Beaupré, Mayor Isabelle Lessard, Chief Mike McKenzie, and Premier Francois Legault to discuss the wildfire situation – reaffirming "the government’s commitment to being there for those affected."
The Canadian government is still fighting wildfires that have consumed numerous sections of Quebec. The 2,000 residents of Lebel-sur-Quévillon were ordered to flee their houses on Friday evening as a neighboring fire neared. And, early Saturday morning, the 1,800 people of Nation Anishnabe du Lac Simon in the Abitibi-Témiscamingue area were advised to flee owing to the toxicity of smoke from adjacent fires.
First it was Alberta. Then Nova Scotia. And now it’s Quebec. Yet another province in Canada dealing with raging wildfires. This visible satellite loop from today shows a bunch of new fires, most caused by lightning. pic.twitter.com/B7yvai5S48
— Collin Gross (@CollinGrossWx) June 2, 2023
The smoke engulfed North America's east coast and has been detected in the skies above Massachusetts, New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Delaware, Virginia, West Virginia, and the District of Columbia.
It is worth noting that there have been 387 forest fires in Quebec this year, compared to a 10-year average of 197, according to SOPFEU.
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