Manitoba, Canada – Canada faces a catastrophic wildfire season in 2025, with over 200 active fires scorching more than 37 million acres of land, an area larger than England.
Blazes raging across Manitoba, Saskatchewan, Alberta, and Ontario, have forced over 27,000 residents to evacuate, with Manitoba alone seeing 17,000 people flee their homes.
Province declared a state of emergency as fires, including the massive Bird River and Flin Flon blazes, remain uncontained, destroying homes and infrastructure.
In Saskatchewan 15,000 residents including entire Indigenous communities have been relocated to temporary shelters as 17 uncontrolled fires burn through 696,000 acres. Alberta reports 1,300 evacuations, with oil production disrupted by fires near Swan Hills.
Canadian Armed Forces are aiding evacuations, using helicopters to airlift residents from remote areas like Pimicikamak Cree Nation, where roads are impassable due to thick smoke and flames. Manitoba Premier Wab Kinew called this the largest evacuation in the province’s recent history.
Smoke from the fires has spread across Canada and into United States, triggering severe air quality alerts in states like Minnesota, Michigan, and North Dakota. US Environmental Protection Agency reported “unhealthy” air quality levels, with particulate matter posing risks of respiratory issues, heart problems, and eye irritation.
Hazy skies have reached as far as northern Florida and even Europe where faint traces of smoke have been detected. Authorities urge vulnerable groups, including children and the elderly, to limit outdoor activity.
The fires fueled by prolonged heat and drought, highlight the growing impact of climate change, which has intensified wildfire seasons. In 2023, Canada saw 42 million acres burned, worst on record.
This year’s early season already exceeds typical annual averages, with 100 of Manitoba’s 111 fires caused by human activity. Firefighting efforts hampered by thick smoke grounding water bombers and strong winds pushing flames toward communities like Flin Flon.
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Emergency shelters in Winnipeg and southern Manitoba including Winkler near US border overwhelmed with Indigenous leaders like Grand Chief Kyra Wilson calling for better support for evacuees. As forecasts predict no rain and rising temperatures, officials warn the crisis may worsen, urging residents to prepare for further evacuations.
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