Wildfires burn nearly a million acres in Western Canada

Light rain and cooler temperatures brought much-needed relief over the weekend in Alberta, where nearly 30,000 residents were forced to evacuate.

A change in weather patterns has brought much-needed relief to firefighters in Western Canada, where an estimated 964,000 acres have burned since the onset of the wildfires more than a week ago, destroying dozens of structures and forcing nearly 30,000 Alberta residents to evacuate.

Cooler temperatures and light, scattered showers allowed firefighters to reach wildfires over the weekend that they had been unable to access "due to the extreme behavior of the wildfires", Christie Tucker, head of the information at Alberta Wildfire, a firefighting agency, said at a news conference Sunday. coming days, with cooler temperatures expected and higher humidity in southern and central Alberta. But in the north, firefighters "will continue to be challenged" by dry conditions, Ms Tucker said.

"People have been calling this season certainly without precedent in recent memory because we have so many fires so extensive," Ms. Tucker said. "It's been an unusual year."

ImageA burned section of forest in the area near Edson, Alberta, was smoldering on Saturday.Credit...Government of Alberta Fire Department via The Canadian Press, via Associated Press

Alberta declared a state of emergency Saturday as more than 110 wildfires burned across the province.That number had dwindled, but only Monday afternoon, when there were 98 active wildfires in the province.Parts of Yellowhead, Big Lakes and Lac Ste. Anne counties were still under evacuation orders Monday.

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Mrs. Tucker said firefighters arrived in Alberta on Sunday from Quebec, Ontario and British Columbia to help fight the wildfires. Alberta firefighters are prioritizing communities at risk and the threat of loss of life, she said, including the fires at Edson, Grizzly Complex, Deep Creek Complex and Fox Lake. p>

Residents who have been forced to evacuate are eligible for financial assistance starting Tuesday, Alberta Premier Danielle Smith told a conference press Monday afternoon. Each adult who has been evacuated and relocated for seven consecutive days will receive $1,250, plus $500 for each dependent under the age of 18.

ImageDisplaced residents picking up supplies at an evacuation center in Edmonton, Alberta on Sunday. “> About 5,000 people have passed through evacuation centers, Colin Blair, executive director of the Alberta Emergency Management Agency, said Sunday at the press conference. As some begin to return home, others will have to keep waiting.

Nearly 300 long-term care patients and residents have been evacuated from Alberta Health Services sites as of Monday morning, Mrs...