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Canada to evacuate 600 people from Ontario amid wildfire smoke
The operation will use aircraft to move residents of Fort Hope, as smoke has triggered air quality alerts and health warnings across parts of the United States.
Canada’s federal government said the Canadian military is preparing to evacuate residents of Fort Hope, a remote community in northwestern Ontario, after wildfires spread and sent smoke across a broad area of the United States, according to SCMP Economy.
Federal Emergencies Minister Eleanor Olszewski said the armed forces will use aircraft for the evacuation of about 600 people, noting the region’s limited road access and heavy reliance on air travel.
Thousands of people have already been evacuated from affected areas to cities farther south in Ontario. The natural resources ministry reported 69 new fires overnight, bringing the total to 955, with about 11,000 square miles burned so far.
Climate experts cited rising temperatures as increasing fire risk by drying timber. While the burned area is still below the five year average, winds have carried smoke south of the border, prompting air quality alerts and health warnings in parts of the United States, Reuters reported via SCMP Economy.