Authorities declared a state of emergency in Squamish, British Columbia, just 64 kilometers from Vancouver. Officials warned residents to stay ready for evacuation. The emergency follows a surge in wildfires across the country.

Locals Prepare to Flee

Nineteen-year-old Max Whittenburg told AFP he was “in shock” seeing flames so close. “We’ve already prepared most of the stuff in our house just in case we do have to evacuate,” he added. Luke Procter, also 19, said he helped his father hook up a trailer “just in case we need to go.”

Fires Burn Millions of Hectares

So far, wildfires have destroyed more than 3.3 million hectares — roughly the size of Belgium. Meanwhile, smoke from the blazes has even drifted across the Atlantic and reached Europe.

Central Provinces Hit Hard

Saskatchewan and Manitoba faced intense wildfires in late May and declared emergencies. However, Saskatchewan Premier Scott Moe offered hope, saying, “roughly half of those who had been forced to evacuate are gearing up to return home.”

Mega-fires continue to burn in Alberta, British Columbia, and northern Ontario. These areas remain on high alert as crews battle to control the flames.

Climate Change Fuels the Crisis

Experts say Canada is warming twice as fast as the global average. Because of this, the country faces shorter winters, less snowfall, and drier summers — all conditions that worsen wildfire risk.

Environment Canada warned that many regions will experience above-average temperatures this summer. Combined with dry spring conditions, this will likely lead to more wildfires in the coming months. Currently, more than a dozen new fires are being reported each day, mostly due to human activity or lightning.