Alberta Declares State of Emergency as Wildfire Spreads

The Alberta government has declared a provincial state of emergency due to the wildfire situation in the province.

Premier Danielle Smith made the announcement on Saturday at 5pm following the meeting of the Emergency Cabinet Committee. She had earlier suggested, in another press briefing, that the province was considering a state of Emergency, reports CBC.

“After reviewing the province’s current situation and our response options, we declared a provincial state of emergency to protect the safety, health and welfare of Albertans”, said Smith.

According to CTV News, The Alberta Emergency Management Agency has moved from a level 3 to a level 4, meaning it’s fully staffed and on alert. The state of emergency allows round the clock monitoring of the situation, access to emergency discretionary funds and the ability to mobilize additional support.

Almost 25,000 Albertans have reportedly been forced out of their homes due to the wildfire, which continues in North and Central Alberta, while 5,200 residents are on evacuation alert.

The number of active fries increased to 110 from 103, as hot and dry conditions led to fast-spreading wildfires that threatened homes, businesses and lives, and thirty-six were considered out-of-control reports CBC.

Report says 350,000 hectares of land have burned since January 1 as of Saturday evening. The premier assures Albertans that the province has “the right tools, technology and the right resources in place to tackle this challenge, and they will get the supports that they need.”

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