Large-scale Wildfires Spread Across Canada... Crude Oil Production Disrupted

Simultaneous Wildfires Rage Across Canada:
State of Emergency Declared in Manitoba

Canada, which has suffered from wildfires every spring, is now facing increasing damage due to large-scale wildfires. In the central province of Manitoba, a state of emergency has been declared, and 17,000 residents have evacuated, raising concerns that this could become the "worst wildfire" in the region's history.

Wildfire that occurred on the 27th (local time) in the Manitoba region of Canada. Manitoba Provincial Government Reuters Yonhap News Agency

According to The Guardian and other foreign media on the 28th (local time), Wab Kinew, Premier of Manitoba, announced at a press conference that a provincial state of emergency was being declared due to the wildfire situation. On this day, approximately 17,000 people, including residents of the northern mining town of Flin Flon and Indigenous communities in Manitoba, were ordered to evacuate. Premier Kinew stated, "This is the largest evacuation in Manitoba that most people can remember."

Manitoba, known for its dense forests, regularly experiences natural disasters such as wildfires and floods, but it is unusual for such large-scale wildfires to break out simultaneously in multiple locations as they have this time. Premier Kinew said, "This time, wildfires are not occurring in just one area, but in every region," adding, "This is a signal of climate change that we must adapt to." According to The Guardian, there are a total of 22 wildfires currently burning in Manitoba.

According to Manitoba authorities, about 200,000 hectares of forest have burned in the region over the past month, which is three times the average annual damage recorded over the past five years. The main cause of these wildfires is believed to be the continued warm and dry weather conditions.

In addition to Manitoba, wildfires are spreading in most regions of Canada, including British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan, and Ontario in the west. According to The Guardian, there are currently 134 wildfires burning across Canada, with half of them having spread beyond controllable levels.

Wildfire that occurred on the 27th (local time) in the Manitoba region of Canada. Government of Manitoba

In particular, wildfires have approached near Fort McMurray, a major oil production hub in Alberta, causing disruptions in crude oil and gas production. On this day, as the fire spread near Chipewyan Lake, about 130 kilometers west of Fort McMurray, oil sands mining company Cenovus Energy evacuated non-essential personnel from its nearby crude oil production facilities.

The Alberta government stated that there has not yet been any direct damage to Chipewyan Lake, but residents in the area have been ordered to be prepared to evacuate within an hour if necessary.

In Swan Hills, located in south-central Alberta, about 1,200 residents have evacuated due to wildfires, and the local oil company Aspenleaf Energy has announced that it will temporarily suspend crude oil production activities.