Canadian Wildfires Spread, Thousands Evacuated

Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney has said the wildfire situation in the country has significantly worsened over the past three weeks. In a post on X on Wednesday, Carney stated that thousands of residents have been forced to evacuate and do not yet know if their homes will survive the flames. “The wildfire situation has deteriorated significantly over the past three weeks across the country, especially in Northwestern Ontario,” Carney said. Smoke from the Canadian wildfires has also been reported reaching the United States. A RIA Novosti correspondent reported that the skies over New York and Boston were blanketed in haze from the fires. According to the Canadian Interagency Forest Fire Centre (CIFFC), there are currently 843 active wildfires across the country, with 181 classified as out of control. Since the start of the year, Canada has recorded nearly 3,500 wildfires, affecting an area of approximately 1.9 million hectares. Meanwhile, CBC News broadcast footage from a freight train cabin showing workers calling for emergency help after being trapped amidst the flames. The video circulated widely on social media, prompting calls for accountability from railway operator Canadian National Rail. The company later stated that all workers trapped near Armstrong, Ontario, were evacuated safely. Canadian National Rail also announced that all operations in the area have been temporarily suspended due to the fires.