Flames gain ground in Canada. Since the beginning of the year, more than 7.1 million hectares have burned across the country due to large forest fires, of which more than 200 are considered out of control, according to public data consulted this Sunday at the Canadian Interagency Center for Forest Fires (Canadian Interagency Forest Fire Center). CIFFC) website.
The bar of six million burned hectares had been crossed on June 19, barely a week ago. An impressive area, which alone represents the equivalent of several French regions and more than 10% of the metropolitan territory (543,940 km²).
The balance could worsen in the coming days, the summer very dry and very hot. Especially since it is usually from the beginning of July when the forest fires are the most important.
More than 460 active wildfires
According to data from the Canadian Interagency Forest Fire Center consulted on Sunday, June 25, 468 forest fires are active in all regions of the country. More than half of them (240) are considered out of control.
On Sunday, acrid smoke shrouded Montreal from still-burning wildfires in Canada, making the city the world’s most air polluted, according to Iqair, a Swiss company specializing in the study of air pollutants. A “smog” warning issued by Environment Canada is in effect for several regions of Quebec.
The weather channel predicts that these fumes should cross the Atlantic in the next few days. By mid-June, the smog had reached New York and Washington in the United States, camouflaging skyscrapers and monuments behind a ubiquitous orange veil.
Source: BFM TV
