Raging Wildfires in Canada prompt Evacuations
Pastor Dale Morgan
Raging Wildfires in Canada prompt Evacuations*
02 Jul 2008 22:20:27 GMT
Source: Reuters
CALGARY, Alberta, July 3 (Reuters) - About 2,000 people in northern
Saskatchewan were evacuated from their homes as dozens of wildfires
threatened small communities in the Western Canadian province, officials
said on Wednesday.
As of Wednesday morning, 64 fires were burning in Saskatchewan. The
region surrounding the town of La Ronge, 385 km (240 miles) north of
Saskatoon, was hardest hit with 48 blazes, according to the provincial
environment department.
There had been no reports of houses or other buildings burned as about
470 firefighters battled the wildfires and dense smoke covered the region.
Dry conditions, and no rain in the forecast, prompted the government to
ban open fires in most of northern Saskatchewan.
Some cooler temperatures and lighter winds across the region slowed the
fires' progress on Wednesday, environment ministry spokeswoman Jeanette
Krayetski said.
"It's given the firefighters a good opportunity to do some really good
direct attack on fires, securing the lines closest to the communities
using air tankers, cats, manpower," Krayetski said.
"However, the one thing that isn't in the mix right now is any
significant precipitation for the next three or four days, and
temperatures will be rising."
Numerous fires, mostly small, were also burning in the Pacific Coast
province of British Columbia. More crews were sent on Wednesday to help
contain a 130-hectare (321-acre) fire on Jackass Mountain near Lytton,
British Columbia, that has forced a partial closure of the Trans Canada
Highway.
The fire in the steep terrain began on Sunday when a recreational
vehicle towing another car burst into flames while traveling on the busy
highway through the Fraser River Canyon.
No homes were threatened, but officials had to restrict travel out of
fear that boulders loosened as surrounding trees burned would roll down
the mountainside onto the highway. (Reporting by Jeffrey Jones in
Calgary and Allan Dowd in Vancouver; Editing by Peter Galloway)