Quebec becomes epicenter of Canada wildfires amid rising concerns

By Al Mayadeen English
Source: Agencies
8 Jun 2023 13:02

So far Canada's wildfires have ravaged about 3.8 million hectares leaving thousands internally displaced.

In this GOES-16 GeoColor and fire temperature satellite image taken Tuesday, June 6, 2023, at 6:40 p.m. EDT and provided by CIRA/NOAA, smoke from wildfires burning in the Canadian Provinces of Quebec, and Ontario, drift southward (CIRA/NOAA via AP)

Wildfires in the Quebec province of Canada have spread far and wide enough that the smoke released from the fires has prompted air quality alerts across Canada's Toronto and multiple US cities including New York.

BREAKING: Footage of the George Washington Bridge that connects New Jersey and New York City amid smoke from Canada wildfires.pic.twitter.com/d3FhjdRy6W
— The Spectator Index (@spectatorindex) June 7, 2023

The country has eagerly awaited, on Wednesday, the arrival of foreign reinforcements to assist in fighting the multiple fires blazing across the country requiring efforts that exceed the capabilities of Canadian firefighters.

In Quebec, 140 fires are currently ablaze, most of which are designated as out of control. The local authorities are hopeful that extra personnel alongside some rainfall would help contain the situation.

Last week, flare-ups in the province of Nova Scotia threatened to scorch acres of residential towns, and firefighters were sent to the western province. This week, the threat in Quebec exceeded that posed by the Nova Scotia fires, making Quebec the epicenter of the crisis.

Quebec's Premier Francois Legault stated that there has not been any significant rainfall forecasted until Monday evening of next week. In addition to that, the official raised concerns regarding a growing shortage of resources.

"With the current hands, we can fight about 40 fires at a time," Legault said in a press address adding that help is expected from France and the US.

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, on Wednesday, considered, via Twitter, that this year's fires to be "the worst wildfire season we've ever had right across the country".

Trudeau wrote, "These fires are affecting everyday routines, lives and livelihoods, and our air quality."

Hundreds of American firefighters have recently arrived in Canada, and more are on the way. On the phone today, I spoke with @POTUS Biden about this critical support – and I thanked him for all the help Americans are providing as we continue to fight these devastating wildfires.
— Justin Trudeau (@JustinTrudeau) June 7, 2023

As of now, about 3.8 million hectares have been ravaged by the fires and over 20,000 people are displaced across Canada with the figures expected to increase exponentially given that several more Quebec residents have been ordered to evacuate their homes come the end of the day.

According to Legault, evacuation orders are set to remain in place until, at least, next week.