Canada ravaged by its worst wildfire season this century: Official
Canada's wildfire season has gotten off to a destructive start, burning approximately 51,000 square kilometres of area in 2023 as of June 13 -- making this year the worst for blazes this century, the federal government says
Visit The Weather Network's wildfire hub to keep up with the latest on the active start to wildfire season across Canada.
The news keeps getting worse for Canada's 2023 wildfire season.
In fact, it is the country's worst this century, according to Emergency Preparedness Minister Bill Blair, who made the statement Monday.
As of Tuesday, June 13, 51,000 square kilometres (or 5.1 million hectares) of area had been burned across the country this year. To put that into context, the amount of area burned is roughly the equivalent to the size of Costa Rica.
More than 2,550 wildfires had been documented this year, with around 450 active blazes.
One of the more concerning wildfires at the moment is threatening the community of Edson in Alberta, where 8,400 residents are under an evacuation order for the second time this year.
It has been a record-setting year for Alberta wildfires. As of June 12, more than 14,000 square kilometres (1.4 million hectares) have been burned across the province -- the most wildland area ever burned in one year in the province, a wildfire service official confirmed.
In B.C., the expanding Donnie Creek wildfire has prompted hundreds of residents to flee or are on an evacuation alert. It is considered to be the province's second-largest blaze ever recorded.
To help battle the hundreds of active wildfires, approximately 5,000 firefighting personnel from numerous countries, including South Africa, have been posted across the country. Meanwhile, hundreds more are anticipated to arrive soon from Chile, Costa Rica, Spain and Portugal.
WATCH: Alberta sets new record for hectares burned as fire season continues
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