Top Takeaways
- Rain and cooler weather have helped to hold back the wildfires across western Canada.
- Canada is experiencing its worst wildfire season on record, with over 50,000 people forced to flee their homes.
- The travel restrictions were put in place to free up accommodation for evacuees and emergency services.
- British Columbia Premier David Eby visited the affected areas and stated that recovery efforts have already begun.
- In the Northwest Territories, firefighters protecting Yellowknife received some help from rain, but tough days are expected ahead for other communities.
The government of British Columbia is lifting travel restrictions to the province’s wildfire-hit interior, except for West Kelowna.
[1/3]British Columbia’s Premier David Eby holds a press conference following a tour of the Tselletkwe Lodge, which was created as a safe place for Indigenous evacuees and others who’ve been displaced due to the wildfires, in Kamloops, B.C., Canada, August 22, 2023. Chad Hipolito/Pool via REUTERS Acquire Licensing Rights
Aug 22 (Reuters) – The government of British Columbia said it would largely lift travel restrictions to the province’s wildfire-hit interior on Tuesday, as rain and cooler weather helped hold back blazes across western Canada.
The restrictions barred non-essential travel to communities in the province’s interior including Kelowna, Vernon and Kamloops and were due to expire at midnight. The measure will remain in place for West Kelowna.
Canada is experiencing its worst wildfire season on record and in the past week more than 50,000 people, including the entire population of the Northwest Territories’ capital Yellowknife, have been forced to flee their homes.
Flames burned nearly 200 homes in Kelowna and West Kelowna, officials said, but conditions were slowly improving even though smoke continued to blanket the province.
“I really am beginning to feel like we’re turning the corner here on this fire,” West Kelowna fire chief Jason Brolund told a news conference.
The travel orders were put in place over the weekend to free up accommodation for evacuees and emergency services.
“…The efforts in partnership with the federal government, with First Nations and others on recovery has started already,” British Columbia Premier David Eby told a news conference in West Kelowna.
The premier was visiting areas worst-hit by wildfires and said active fires were still burning very close to many homes.
In the Northwest Territories (NWT), 2,000 kilometres (1,200 miles) to the north, firefighters protecting Yellowknife received some help from rain, and the blaze is not expected to reach the city in the next three days, NWT Fire said in a social media post.
But officials warned of tough days ahead for the communities of Hay River and Fort Smith, near the Alberta border, with rising temperatures expected to spur more fire activity.
Reporting by Nia Williams; Editing by Cynthia Osterman
Our Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.
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British Columbia’s Premier David Eby announced on Tuesday that the government would largely lift travel restrictions to the province’s wildfire-hit interior. This decision comes as rain and cooler weather have helped to hold back the blazes across western Canada. The travel restrictions had previously barred non-essential travel to communities in the province’s interior, including Kelowna, Vernon, and Kamloops. However, the measure will remain in place for West Kelowna.
Canada is currently experiencing its worst wildfire season on record, with over 50,000 people, including the entire population of Yellowknife, the capital of the Northwest Territories, being forced to flee their homes. The wildfires have caused significant damage, with nearly 200 homes being burned in Kelowna and West Kelowna. Despite these challenges, conditions are slowly improving, although smoke continues to blanket the province.
During a news conference, West Kelowna fire chief Jason Brolund expressed optimism about the progress being made in fighting the fires, stating, “I really am beginning to feel like we’re turning the corner here on this fire.” The travel orders that were put in place over the weekend were intended to free up accommodation for evacuees and emergency services.
British Columbia Premier David Eby, who visited the areas worst-hit by the wildfires, emphasized the ongoing efforts in partnership with the federal government, First Nations, and others on recovery. However, he also acknowledged that active fires were still burning dangerously close to many homes.
In the Northwest Territories, firefighters protecting Yellowknife received some assistance from rain, and it is expected that the blaze will not reach the city in the next three days, As highlighted by NWT Fire. However, officials have warned that tough days lie ahead for the communities of Hay River and Fort Smith, near the Alberta border, as rising temperatures are expected to increase fire activity.
In consideration of all these factors, the lifting of travel restrictions in British Columbia’s wildfire-hit interior is a positive development as rain and cooler weather provide some relief. However, the situation remains challenging, and efforts to combat the fires and support affected communities will continue.
Reporting by Nia Williams; Editing by Cynthia Osterman
Our Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.
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