Major forest fires in Canada: 17,000 people evacuated

Steph Deschamps / June 1, 2025

More than 17,000 people were being evacuated on Wednesday in Manitoba, in central Canada, as the province got off to one of its worst starts of the wildfire season, according to authorities.

With global warming, Canada is increasingly affected by extreme weather events, including mega-fires in recent years. In 2023, the country experienced the worst fire season in its history.

“This is the largest evacuation operation in Manitoba in recent memory,” announced Premier Wab Kinew at a press conference, referring to a region-wide state of emergency.

A military aircraft is to be deployed “imminently” to help people in the most remote areas to evacuate.

Nearly 200,000 hectares of forest have been affected in the past month, three times the total annual average for the region.

Canada currently has 134 active fires in several provinces, including Ontario, British Columbia, Alberta and Saskatchewan.

According to official forecasts, the forest fire season could be “above normal” in central and western Canada in June and July, and “well above average” in August, due in part to the severe or extreme drought that continues to prevail in many areas.

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Major forest fires in Canada: 17,000 people evacuated

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