Fire Crews Battle Fires Across Canadian Prairies

Reuters via Yahoo! ^ | Sat Jun 29, 9:06 PM ET

[jae471]

Fire Crews Battle Fires Across Canadian Prairies
Sat Jun 29, 9:06 PM ET

PRINCE ALBERT, Saskatchewan (Reuters) - Firefighters in Saskatchewan battled nearly 180 wildfires across the province on Saturday, which have forced nearly 600 residents to flee their homes, officials said. In the city of Prince Albert, Saskatchewan Social Services opened 300 beds at a community college for residents who have evacuated from the communities of Crutwell and Holbien, 20 kms (12.4 miles) west of the city, where two fires in the area merged into a single blaze.

Firefighters and air force crews have been battling the blaze since Friday morning. Despite their efforts, it has spread across 4,000 hectares (10,000) acres, of land with no sign of abating.

"The fire is listed as not yet under control," said Earl Greyeyes, information officer for Saskatchewan Environment.

But officials said no structural damage was reported.

Dry weather and high winds have exacerbated the situation across the Canadian prairie province.

This year, nearly 650 fires have been reported in the province, almost double the annual average Saskatchewan firefighters have seen in the last five years.

"It's above normal," Greyeyes said.

More than 1,150 firefighters have been working around the clock to bring the fires under control.

[Black Powder]

We currently have 533 forest fires smoldering in British Columbia.