Canada is on high alert as wildfires rage across the country.
In Manitoba and Saskatchewan, the situation is dire.
Officials declared a state of emergency and ordered thousands to evacuate.
17,000 people must leave their homes.
Many are headed to football fields and community centers in cities like Winnipeg.
The military is helping with the evacuations.
This is the largest evacuation in Manitoba’s history.
It needs a lot of resources and cooperation from all levels of government.
In Saskatchewan, the situation is just as bad.
14 wildfires are burning out of control.
The government declared a state of emergency and evacuated over 4,000 people.
The emergency declaration lasts 30 days but can be extended.
In Alberta, the wildfires are affecting oil and gas production.
Some production has been halted temporarily.
At least one small town had to evacuate.
Cenovus Energy reduced non-essential staff at its Foster Creek facility.
On May 28, a wildfire burned over 18,000 acres near Chipewyan Lake.
This is about 80 miles west of the Fort McMurray oil sands production center.
Alberta officials said there is no immediate threat to the lake.
But residents were warned to leave in case the wind changes.
Another wildfire, covering nearly 10,000 acres, is burning out of control.
It’s about 4 miles north of Swan Hills.
Around 1,200 people in Swan Hills were ordered to evacuate.
Aspenleaf Energy, an oil and gas producer, stopped operations temporarily.
It shut down oil production of about 4,000 barrels per day.
Canada’s wildfire season runs from May to September.
The worst season was in 2023, when wildfires covered much of North America in hazardous smoke for months.