The province of Alberta, home to over four million residents, remains under a state of emergency as nearly 100 wildfires, dozens of which are uncontrolled, continue to engulf the area. Since the declaration of the first local state of emergency on May 4, local officials reported that over 782,000 hectares of land, equivalent to more than 1.9 million American football fields or 3,000 square miles, have been consumed by the fires.
Efforts to combat the relentless flames have seen thousands of firefighters and support staff from both Canada and the United States deployed to the affected region. However, as of Friday, there are still 93 active wildfires in Alberta, with no indication of the situation improving anytime soon.
Early data suggests that this year's wildfire season could be one of the most severe on record. The circumstances leading to the severity of the fires can be attributed to typical May wildfires in Alberta, where the melting snow exposes dry vegetation known as "fuel." However, this year the region experienced record-breaking heat and below-average rainfall, exacerbating the situation.
From mid-February to mid-May, central and northern Alberta received approximately 50% less rainfall than the usual 90-day average, with certain areas experiencing 75-100% less precipitation. Additionally, average temperatures were 3-6°C higher than normal, resulting in numerous heat records being broken throughout May.
The impact of the wildfires extends beyond the immediate destruction, as the massive amount of smoke emitted poses health risks and blankets a significant portion of western Canada. Residents, like Marilyn Hamelin from High Prairie, Alberta, describe living under constant smoke and ash, with respiratory issues becoming a prevalent concern.
Evacuations have been ongoing, with thousands of individuals forced to leave their homes. The size of the burned area, approximately 782,000 hectares, is nearly seven times higher than the five-year average for the same period, making it more challenging to bring the wildfires under control.
Firefighters and support staff from Canada and various North American agencies are working diligently to combat the blazes, but the unpredictable nature of the situation, combined with the lack of sufficient rainfall, makes it difficult to determine when the wildfires will finally be extinguished. Climate change's role in exacerbating these fires has been noted by experts, who anticipate an increase in both the frequency and severity of such incidents in the future.