Heat and winds are likely to aggravate the dozens of forest fires that are still ravaging Alberta. And this, when discontent is felt among the thousands of evacuees.
The mercury could reach 30 degrees Celsius as early as Saturday in northern Alberta and part of Saskatchewan, Environment Canada has warned. The temperature will stay above 14 degrees overnight.
This is 10 to 15 degrees warmer than usual for the season. Sun and heat should last at least until Friday in the north of the province, according to forecasts from the federal agency.
Already on Saturday, the authorities of a region observed an intensification of the fires, indicates the Reuters agency.
The number of fires increased during the day. As of late afternoon, 86 wildfires are still active in the province, according to Wildfire Alberta. And 25 of them are out of control.
Smoke from wildfires reduces visibility and air quality, the federal agency warns.
The province counts about 16,500 evacuees. In total, nearly 30,000 people have fled their homes at one time or another since the fires began, according to Reuters. The state of emergency, declared since May 6, therefore continues in this province in the west of the country.
The grumbling rises
Some evacuees are beginning to grow impatient, multiple media reported on Saturday. Some want to return home to protect their home. Others wish to take care of farm animals left behind.
In Grande Prairie County, some 450 kilometers northwest of Edmonton, a member of the public operating his bulldozer “endangered his safety and the safety of his employees by causing trees to fall into the fire and almost rushing on firefighters and their equipment, ”denounced the authorities in a press release on Saturday.
The population must “understand that the decisions taken to counter the fires are highly coordinated and that members of the public cannot act on their side, even if they want to do well”, they warned.
The Alberta government warned on Saturday that it is “illegal and dangerous” to fly drones over disaster areas.
In the midst of the election campaign, Alberta Premier Danielle Smith must react and reassure the population. Saturday morning, she announced at a press conference that she had approved the construction of a firewall around the city of Grande Prairie.
American firefighters, about 200, should arrive on Saturday to reinforce the approximately 300 members of the Canadian Forces already planned. Of these, 200 are on the ground, according to Radio-Canada.
With the Canadian Press