Forest Fires Rage in Western Canada, US

Tens of thousands of people have been forced to evacuate due to forest fires raging in two of Canada's western provinces, and several western US states. In Canada, the historic mountain town of Jasper, Alberta, has been partially destroyed, while millions of acres have burned across the two countries..Canada Burning.Forest fires have erupted in several areas of the Canadian provinces of Alberta and British Columbia (BC), Canada's two westernmost provinces. Fires have been reported almost all across Alberta and BC, with hundreds of active fires burning..In Alberta, the town and national park of Jasper, which lies in the Rocky Mountains, have been worst hit. In recent days, the town and park were evacuated within hours as flames rapidly approached the area. Approximately 25,000 people were evacuated from the area; 10,000 of which came from the town of Jasper itself (of which 5,000 were residents), with 15,000 visitors to the park. Those who evacuated were forced to go westward, into BC, as all other roadways were inaccessible due to the fires..Firefighters themselves were also forced to evacuate from the town on Wednesday due to the extremely poor air quality, but have since been able to return..The Jasper fire was reportedly started by a lightning strike that occurred on Monday..According to Alberta Public Safety Minister Mike Ellis, the fire which struck the town was estimated to be 100 metres (328 feet) tall, and with wind conditions closed a distance of 5 kilometres (approximately 3 miles) in less than 30 minutes..Alberta's Premier (the equivalent of a state governor) Danielle Smith delivered an address on the situation, stating that approximately 30-50 percent of the town had been destroyed by the fire thus far. Video footage from the town shows entire blocks destroyed, with nothing but the foundation of houses and burnt out vehicles remaining in the areas that were hit..Premier Smith has stated that the government will commit funds to rebuilding the town. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau offered his condolences for the situation, and has pulled military and firefighting resources from across the country to assist in firefighting efforts in both Alberta and BC..Approximately 80-90 troops from the 2nd Battalion Princess Patricia's Canadian Light Infantry (PPCLI), stationed in CFB Shilo in Manitoba are headed to Jasper. It is unclear how long the PPCLI will be participating in firefighting efforts against the fire that has thus far burnt just shy of 89,000 acres. A comprehensive estimate is difficult to reach due to weather conditions, and the extremity of the fire which is presently not under control..In addition to assets of the Canadian Armed Forces, 400 firefighters from several other nations are set to arrive in Canada in the coming days, or have arrived, in order to assist in firefighting efforts..One hundred firefighters are set to arrive from Mexico next Thursday, with 200 from South Africa expected to arrive next Friday. One hundred additional firefighters from Australia and New Zealand will also be arriving, joining a smaller Australian team that arrived last weekend..Jasper, though one of the areas hardest hit, is not the only fire Alberta is facing. Elsewhere in the province there are approximately 157 active wildfires. In BC, government resources state there are 403 active fires, of which 218 have been declared out of control..So far in 2024, wildfires have destroyed more than five million acres..The scenes from Jasper are reminiscent of 2023, when fires in Canada burnt 40,772,000 acres, approximately five percent of Canada's forest area and an area larger than Greece. The 2023 fires set a record by more than double the previous fire record, recorded in 1989..Jasper is one of Canada's most popular national parks, drawing in over two million visitors every year..Fires in America.In the western US, the largest fires have been reported in Oregon and California, with the Durkee fire in Oregon being the nation's largest..The Durkee fire, which resulted from a lightning strike, has burned approximately 630 square miles in the nine days since it started. As of July 26th, the fire was only 20 percent contained. Evacuations were ordered for the small town of Huntington, home to just over 500 people, but the order was lifted as of Wednesday..A pilot for a small tanker aircraft in Oregon was found dead after his plane went down during fire fighting efforts in the east of the state..Further south in California, the Park fire has raged virtually uncontained, destroying 257 square miles, including portions of the town of Chico. Thousands of people from the Butte and Tehama counties were evacuated, and approximately 130 buildings in the town have been destroyed, with an additional 4,200 threatened. Two minor injuries have been reported, but no fatalities..A 42-year-old man, Ronnie Dean Stout, was arrested in connection with the fire, as authorities believe him to be responsible..Witnesses allege spotting Stout pushing a burning car into a gully near Chico on Wednesday, the flames of which caused the fire that has quickly exploded to become one of the US' largest. Police arrested Stout on Thursday..According to Butte County District Attorney Mike Ramsey, Stout was seen "calmly leaving the area by blending in with the other citizens who were in the area and fleeing the rapidly evolving fire" after having pushed the car into the gully..Stout is expected to appear in court on Monday. He has received two previous strikes in California, the first being in 2001 for lewd acts on a child under 14 years of age, and the second in 2002 for robbery with great bodily injury..According to California law, individuals who have received two prior convictions of violent or serious felonies will received a lengthened sentence on the third conviction. While certain to include arson, Stout's charges for starting the fire have yet to be confirmed..Firefighting authorities estimate the fire to only be about three percent contained. The fire is still fresh and is rapidly expanding due to windy conditions and temperatures above 100 degrees Fahrenheit..Across the Pacific Northwest of the US, just under one million acres have burned this summer..Smoke from the fires in both Canada and the US has been reported as far east as New England, as far north as Canada's Northwest Territories, and as far south as Mexico, creating hazardous air conditions for tens of millions.