Status: 05.07.2021 4.40 p.m.
An unprecedented heat wave and many lightning strikes caused the forest fires in Canada. At least 184 fires were still blazing in British Columbia yesterday. Now the army is stepping in and helping.
The Province of British Columbia is now receiving air support from the Army in the fight against the wildfires in western Canada. As the Minister for Public Security, Bill Blair, announced on the online service Twitter, the government is complying with a request from the provincial government. According to his ministry, the air force will now support the transport of emergency services and equipment to the forest fire areas for two weeks and also help with possible evacuations.
350 soldiers are supposed to help
Defense Minister Harjit Sajjan had already announced on Friday the construction of an operations center in Edmonton in the neighboring province of Alberta. The up to 350 soldiers are supposed to support the emergency services logistically in the fight against the forest fires.
Yesterday, at least 184 wildfires were still blazing in British Columbia, according to the provincial authorities. 41 of these fires only broke out in the past two days – lightning strikes after an unprecedented heat wave were often the cause.
Place Lytton almost completely destroyed – two dead
The town of Lytton, around 250 kilometers northeast of Vancouver, was hit particularly badly. The 250-inhabitant village was almost completely destroyed by the flames, at least two people were killed.
Villager Jeff Chapman had reported days ago on CBC that his parents were killed in an accident when a power pole crashed into their house in Lytton. The authorities did not confirm her death until Saturday evening after investigators were able to enter the burned-out village. Before the fire, a national temperature record of 49.6 degrees Celsius had been measured in Lytton.
Army helps fight forest fires in Canada
Carsten Schabosky, ARD New York, July 5, 2021 4:36 p.m.