A Canadian province declares a state of emergency for forest fires. Photo/Asia News Channel
Among the evacuated areas was the district of Brazeau, including 7,000 people living in the Drayton Valley, 140 km west of the provincial capital Edmonton.
The 3,600 people from Fox Lake were also among the evacuees, where the 1,458-acre Fox Lake Fire destroyed 20 homes and a police station.
“I don’t know if I’ve ever seen multiple communities evacuated at once during a fire season,” Smith said.
So far this year, Smith said, 43,000 hectares have been burned due to wildfires.
He said $1.12 billion had been set aside for contingencies because they knew a significant amount could be spent on emergency management.
Alberta voters will go to the polls on May 29 to choose a new government. Smith said it was to be expected that Election Day would go as planned.
As of 5:00 p.m. local time on Saturday, more than 24,000 Albertans had been evacuated from their homes, with 110 active wildfires across the province, and 36 of them out of control.
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