U.S. National Weather Service reports

Canadian Wildfires Trigger Mass Evacuations and Cross-Border Smoke Concerns

May 12, 2024, 06:12 PM

A series of wildfires across British Columbia and Alberta, Canada, has led to widespread evacuations and significant environmental impacts. Over 3,000 residents, including the entire community of Fort Nelson and the neighboring Fort Nelson First Nation, were ordered to evacuate due to a fast-growing wildfire. Canadian authorities have also urged all remaining residents in northeastern British Columbia to evacuate, despite improving weather conditions. The wildfires have caused heavy smoke, which has drifted into Alberta and across the border into the U.S., prompting air quality alerts in Minnesota and concerns over dangerous air quality. Emergency evacuation orders and alerts were issued for multiple communities in western Canada. The situation has been exacerbated by a cold front that is pushing smoke from the Canadian wildfires into the U.S., affecting air quality across several states.