Wab Kinew, the premier of Manitoba, has angrily objected to U.S. politicians who said Canada should do more to control its wildfires. Kinew said in a recent statement that the politicians were “trivializing” the seriousness of the existing wildfire catastrophe, which has already taken lives and forced many people to leave their homes. Manitoba is now fighting over 100 active wildfires. Some communities, like Garden Hill Anishinaabe Nation and Snow Lake, had to leave their homes. Kinew thanked U.S. firemen for their help but told U.S. politicians that they needed to do more to help. Experts say that climate change is making wildfire seasons longer and more intense, which makes the problem even more serious for both Canada and its southern neighbor.
Why are U.S. lawmakers worried about wildfires in Canada?
A group of six U.S. congressmen recently wrote to Canada’s embassy to say they were worried about the thick smoke from the wildfires. The smoke has made the air quality in the U.S. quite bad and made it unhealthy for millions of people to do things outside. The letter advised Canadian officials to take stronger steps to stop wildfires, including better managing the forests. These lawmakers also talked about how the bad air quality has affected the people they represent. The smoke has crossed the border and made visibility worse in many states. Here is the link to our article on the Los Angeles Wildfires Mystery
What is going on in Manitoba with all of these wildfires?
As of Thursday, Manitoba was battling 104 wildfires, with several of them out of control. The government has declared a state of emergency for the second time this summer, since the fires are still going on. Because the fires are so close, two villages, Garden Hill Anisininew Nation and Snow Lake, have had to leave. The situation has deteriorated significantly, resulting in extensive land burning. So far this year, almost four million hectares have burned in Canada. The flames have mostly devastated Manitoba and Saskatchewan, where they have caused deaths and a lot of damage to property.
How are firefighters in Canada and the U.S. working together?
Kinew complimented the work of U.S. firemen who had come to Manitoba to help with the disaster. He told U.S. politicians to go to the province and see for themselves how dedicated the American firefighting heroes are. He highlighted that this cooperation is crucial for putting out the fires and supporting people in need. Kinew emphasized that recovery should take priority over political grandstanding, despite the existing political tensions. Here is the link to our article on the California Wildfires Challenge
How can Canada stop wildfires from happening?
Canada is concerned about stopping wildfires. According to the Canadian Interagency Forest Fire Centre (CIFFC), wildfires are a normal part of Canada’s cycle, especially in the boreal forest areas. Lightning strikes are the main cause of wildfires, but recently, these fires have become more common and more intense because of climate change, which has caused the weather to become warmer and drier. Scientists say that Canada’s vast landmass, along with the rapid warming of its Arctic regions, is why Canada is warming twice as fast as the rest of the world.
Final Thoughts
The wildfires in Manitoba and all around Canada show how climate change is making things harder and how we need to do a better job of managing emergencies. Wildfires are common in Canada, but they are becoming more frequent and severe, so we must do more to stop them. To lessen the damage from these calamities, countries need to work together, manage their forests well, and deal with climate change. The Canadian government is still committed to dealing with the threat of wildfires, but more needs to be done to make sure they are ready for the future.
