Canada is battling its worst wildfire season in years, with over 17,000 people evacuated from western Manitoba due to devastating fires. The province-wide state of emergency was declared by Premier Wab Kinew, who asked the prime minister for military aid.
The climate crisis has made wildfires more frequent and intense, with 134 active fires across Canada, half of which are out of control. Residents in several remote towns and Indigenous communities have been told to leave due to the danger posed by the flames.
Most evacuees are headed to Winnipeg, where emergency shelters have been set up for displaced residents. Firefighters have been injured, including one who was struck by a falling tree while battling blazes. The situation is dire, with 22 wildfires in the province and nearly 200,000 hectares of forests scorched in just a month.
The extreme weather has made it challenging for people to leave, with traffic jams and fuel shortages affecting evacuation efforts. Residents are being asked to “open their doors” to displaced residents, as emergency services struggle to cope with the scale of the disaster. The situation highlights the urgent need for climate action to mitigate the effects of rising temperatures.
Source: https://www.theguardian.com/world/2025/may/29/canada-wildfires-manitoba-province-fire-evacuation