Thousands of firefighters battling 211 wildfires across Canada

By Barry Ellsworth

TRENTON, Canada (AA) – Firefighters from as far away as Australia were battling 211 wildfires on Thursday that span Canada from coast to coast and have forced more than 50,000 from their homes to date.

Another 300 firefighters, including 200 from South Africa and 100 from the United States, are expected to arrive this weekend to help battle the fires that are burning in provinces from British Columbia on the west coast to Nova Scotia on the east, a span of about 5,500 km. (3,400 miles).

"The simple fact is that Canada is experiencing the impacts of climate change, including more frequent and more extreme wildfires," said Federal Natural Resources Minister Jonathan Wilkinson. There are 2,400 firefighters confronting blazes in the province of Alberta alone.

More than 150 homes have been lost in the area of Halifax, the capital of Nova Scotia, and 20,000 have been forced from their homes since Sunday. The South African firefighters are expected to help in Nova Scotia.

The wildfire that has been threatening Halifax has been burning for four days and is currently approximately 50% contained. However, the hot and dry weather on Thursday could potentially intensify the blaze.

“We are far from being out of the woods,” Nova Scotia Natural Resources representative Dave Steeves said Thursday. "We are still dealing with a very dangerous and volatile situation and we're going to take all precautions necessary to keep our folks and the public safe."

The Nova Scotia government has asked for and will receive military aid from the federal government, officials said.

While officials said the number of fires is at about the 10-year average, the amount of land consumed is unprecedented so early in the season at 27,000 square km. (10,500 square miles). The national 10-year average for this time of year is about 500 square km. (193 square miles).

Much of Canada is forested and the wildfire season begins every year in May as the snow melts and extends to September.