Wildfires in Western Canada Force Thousands to Evacuate

Forest fires have wreaked havoc in Canada’s Western Canadian region since Friday, prompting the evacuation of 6,600 people in Alberta. The Wood Buffalo Regional Municipality declared a “local emergency,” leading to evacuation orders for several neighborhoods in Fort McMurray. Roads and highways were congested with fleeing vehicles as the fires rapidly spread, covering an area of 209 square kilometers in Alberta alone. Across the country, officials reported 134 active fires, with 43 deemed out of control.