Quebec Natural Resources Minister Maite Blanchette Vezina said
told reporters that the number of out-of-control fires in the
eastern province dropped to 44 from 72 on Saturday, the Canadian
Broadcasting Corp reported.
Canada is enduring its worst-ever spring fire season, with 431
active fires as of Sunday, up five from Saturday, according to
the Canadian Interagency Forest Fire Centre.
By Monday, around 1,200 firefighters, including more than 100
from France and some from other provinces, are expected to be
battling blazes across Quebec.
"With the resources we got from France and New Brunswick, the
situation is more safe," Blanchette Vezina said, adding that
authorities were not yet ready to send many evacuated residents
home.
A federal government meteorologist forecast on Saturday that
Quebec could receive light rain on Tuesday in some burning
areas.
In Alberta, the provincial government warned that fires were
becoming increasingly unpredictable and moving closer to the
evacuated town of Edson, 200 km (125 miles) west of the
provincial capital Edmonton.
A fire south of Edson is growing and now spans 204,000 hectares
(504,095 acres), local officials said in an online update on
Sunday.
"Last Wednesday, we thought we could close down our emergency
control center and come Friday, that idea went out the door when
the fires went out of control very drastically," said Luc
Mercier, chief administrative officer for Yellowhead County.
The Pacific province of British Columbia is also fighting a
large number of fires, including one that has burned within four
kilometres of the northeastern B.C. community of Tumbler Ridge.
Shifting winds have helped firefighters battle that blaze in the
Rocky Mountain foothills, but warmer, drier temperatures on
Sunday may cause the fire to grow, said Karley Desrosiers,
information officer for B.C. Wildfire Service.
(Reporting by Rod Nickel in Winnipeg, Manitoba; Editing by
Marguerita Choy)
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