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Forest fires force thousands to flee in Canada
Montreal (AFP) July 20, 2009 Raging forest fires in western Canada have forced 10,000 people to evacuate their homes with thousands more poised to flee the flames that began consuming thousands of acres at the weekend, local officials said. "Right now there are over 10,000 people who have been evacuated... and then we've got over 6,000 people on evacuation alert," said Jenelle Turpin, an Emergency Operations Center officer in Kelowna, a British Columbia city of 100,000 people about 400 kilometers (250 miles) east of Vancouver. "They've been out of their homes for the last two days with very little clothing or their support stuff from home, Turpin said. Three fires broke out from Saturday in pine forests which cover the mountainsides ringing Kelowna and the surrounding area, one of western Canada's main wine-growing regions. The flames have destroyed at least three homes and scorched more than 1,400 hectares (3,460 acres) of forest, Turpin said, but there have been no reported deaths or injuries. On Sunday firefighters said at least nine homes had been consumed by the flames, which crossed a highway forcing the inhabitants of 6,500 homes to leave. The cause of the fires remains unknown, but a combination of low humidity, high temperatures and strong winds have stoked the flames. More than 100 firefighters were battling the blazes Monday, aided by about a dozen helicopters and water-spraying planes that have been deployed. One of the most threatening fires was about 40 percent contained, but authorities feared that continuing strong winds would put the firefighters' gains in jeopardy. Weather forecasters were calling for hot and dry conditions in coming days, with temperatures rising to 35 degrees Celsius (95 degrees Fahrenheit). The evacuees have gathered at an ice rink and a nearby school, according to the Vancouver Sun newspaper. Share This Article With Planet Earth
Related Links Forest and Wild Fires - News, Science and Technology
Forest fires force thousands to evacuate in CanadaMontreal (AFP) July 19, 2009 Around 17,000 people have been forced to evacuate their homes in the Kelowna region of Canada's British Columbia province, where forest fires have already devastated 300 hectares (741 acres) of land. At least nine houses have been consumed by the flames, which crossed a highway forcing the inhabitants of 6,500 homes to leave, but the fires have not caused any injuries or deaths so far ... read more |
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