Wildfires

Wildfires - Alberta, Canada

Wildfires which continue to rage in Alberta and British Columbia have created a sense of panic and fear, and forced thousands of residents to evacuate from their homes. As of today, May 20, 2023, there are 100 active wildfires burning in Alberta. 25 of these fires are out of control. The wildfires have forced the evacuation of over 20,000 people and have destroyed or damaged hundreds of homes and businesses. The fires are also having a significant impact on the environment, with smoke from the fires blanketing much of Alberta and parts of the United States. The wildfires are being fuelled by hot, dry weather and strong winds. The weather is expected to remain hot and dry in the coming days, which could lead to further growth of the wildfires. Oil production of about 245 000 barrels a day has been shut down as the flames approached.

Wildfires - Spain

Emergency crews evacuated around 600 villagers in western Spain overnight as a wildfire blamed on arsonists ravaged up to 8,000 hectares (19,800 acres) near the border with Portugal, officials said. Strong winds were making it harder to control the blaze in the densely forested areas of Las Hurdes and Sierra de Gata in the Extremadura region, emergency services said on Friday. An unusually dry winter across parts of southern Europe coming after three years of below-average rainfall in Spain has raised the risk of wildfires.