Alberta officials say at least 7,500 people have been forced to evacuate as massive wildfires threaten homes and roads, while thousands in British Columbia have been told to be ready to leave on a moment’s notice.

Alberta

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Thousands of people have been evacuated from their homes in Alberta and British Columbia as wildfires continue to ravage western Canada. Alberta officials report at least 7,500 individuals have been forced to leave due to massive fires endangering homes and roadways. Meanwhile, thousands in British Columbia have been advised to be prepared to evacuate on short notice.

Among those who fled the flames is Billy Joe Moberly, a firefighter with 28 years of experience. He navigated highways and back roads overnight in a school bus, transporting four families, including his own. However, space limitations forced them to leave one family behind. Moberly mentioned the intense smoke and flames from the Simo Complex fire, which is now larger than the city of Calgary and is threatening the three communities that make up Little Red River Cree Nation.

The situation has led to a severe shortage of hotel rooms for the evacuees. Jason Savard, one of the evacuees, managed to secure a hotel room for his family after spending hours in their truck. Many evacuees are found across various hotels in northern and central Alberta. The fires have also resulted in extreme air quality issues, affecting areas like Edmonton, Yellowknife, and Saskatoon. Even residents not in the direct path of the wildfires are experiencing the detrimental effects of smoke.

In British Columbia, a severe heat wave has exacerbated the fire situation, leading to hundreds of people being ordered to leave and an additional 2,000 on evacuation alert. People are anxious about the fire's impact on their homes and communities, and the poor air quality remains a significant concern.



Wildfires drive thousands from their homes in western Canada

This is how Billy Joe Moberly fled the fire. Overnight he navigated highways and back roads in this school bus carrying four families including his own. We had to leave one family back because we didn't have enough room. A firefighter for 28 years Moberly knew when things were getting bad in his northern Alberta First Nation. You know it's close, you know, you see the houses and the real strong smell of smoke, barely can breathe. The Simo Complex fire is bigger than the size of Calgary and growing. It's threatening the three communities that make up Little Red River Cree Nation. Fox Lake was evacuated last year due to wildfire. This year's fire is so big and so hot everyone was forced to leave. It's also starting to cut off the remote area's main highway, the only road out. We lose those roads, the power goes out, yeah, yeah, we're scared to lose it all. With 7,500 evacuees in Alberta, hotel rooms are hard to come by. Jason Savard nabbed one for his family Saturday night. We're happy we got to sleep in a bed instead of the truck. We've met some very tired, sleepy people staying in their cars for hours as they wait for a room at this hotel. One of the many hotels across northern and central Alberta accepting evacuees. In British Columbia, a punishing heat wave only encouraged fires to grow out of control. Hundreds have been ordered out and about 2,000 people are on evacuation alert. Ready to leave at a moment's notice. It's tough, you know, it's a lot of anxiety. Worried about the village, worried about people that live here. Worried about people getting out of here. Just worried about what's going to happen. Sam, even those not in the direct line of the wildfires are feeling the effects. That's right, and particularly the smoke is really bad. Even if you're hundreds of kilometres away from any fire, kind of like we are here. In Edmonton, all weekend, the air quality health index was at extremely poor levels. In fact, the worst rating that it can get. And on Sunday, particularly, that was also the case in places like Yellowknife and Saskatoon. So again, even if you can't see fire, you can't see the flames, every time you go outside, you can smell it, you can taste it, and you'll think about it. Ian? Sam Sampson reporting from smoky Edmonton this evening.

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Jerusalem

Middle East Conflict

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Kyiv

Ukraine Invasion

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