Wildfires rage across Alberta forcing more than 24,000 to flee their homes
At last count, 108 wildfires were burning in the province and more than 24,000 people have been evacuated as of Sunday, forcing officials to declare a provincial state of emergency.
Watch: Wildfires rage across Alberta, Canada
On Saturday, Alberta, Canada, declared a provincial state of emergency after tens of thousands of people were forced to evacuate their homes as "unprecedented" wildfires rage across the province.
EDMONTON, Alberta -- Several raging wildfires across a wide swath of Alberta have forced the evacuation of thousands of residents as a warm, dry, and windy pattern persists across the province.
At last count, 108 wildfires were burning in the province as of Sunday, of which 30 were considered out of control, according to Alberta's Wildfire Information Dashboard.
Premier Danielle Smith, the head of the ruling United Conservative Party in Alberta, said more than 24,000 Albertans had been evacuated from their homes as the wildfires rage across the province.
And because of the unfolding situation, Alberta declared a provincial state of emergency on Saturday, Smith said at a news conference.
WHAT SHOULD BE IN YOUR EVACUATION 'GO' BAG DURING WILDFIRE SEASON
(CIRA / NOAA)
"This is a stark reminder of how unpredictable and powerful wildfires can be," said Stephen Lacroix, assistant deputy minister at the Government of Alberta, during a press conference Friday morning.
So far, Alberta emergency officials have issued more than two dozen critical wildfire alerts for the province.
There have been no reports of any injuries so far.
Extremely busy fire season in Alberta
The current wildfires are just the latest in what has already been an extremely busy fire season in Alberta. So far, the province has recorded 348 wildfires since Jan. 1, burning 25,000 hectares (61,000 acres), said Christine Tucker with Alberta Wildfire.
MAKING SENSE OF WILDFIRE JARGON
"That’s significantly more wildfire activity for this time of year than we’ve certainly seen at any time in the recent past," Tucker said.
Fire bans are in effect for much of the region, prohibiting any open wood fires either on public or private property, including backyards.