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Nova Scotia Wildfires Continue To Burn | Weather.com
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Photos Of The Response To The Nova Scotia Wildfires

A waterbombing helicopter is seen carrying water as emergency responders battle the wildfire burning in Tantallon, Nova Scotia, outside of Halifax on Wednesday, May 31, 2023. (Darren Calabrese/The Canadian Press via AP)
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A waterbombing helicopter is seen carrying water as emergency responders battle the wildfire burning in Tantallon, Nova Scotia, outside of Halifax on Wednesday, May 31, 2023. (Darren Calabrese/The Canadian Press via AP)

At a Glance

  • Hundreds of firefighters are traveling from the U.S. and South Africa to fight fires in Canada.
  • The amount of Canadian land consumed by wildfires this year is "unprecedented."
  • Photos show emergency responders working to fight the blaze.

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M​ore than 300 firefighters are heading to Canada from the U.S. and South Africa to aid the battle against wildfires. The country is experiencing an unprecedented wildfire season.

W​hile the number of fires this year is roughly on par with the 10-year averages, according to officials, the amount of land the fires have consumed is "unprecedented." This year's fires have devoured about 10,424 square miles, while the national 10-year average is less than 200 square miles, according to Federal Minister of Emergency Preparedness Bill Blair.

A​bout 100 U.S. firefighters will arrive in Nova Scotia on Thursday, where two fires are burning out of control. One of the wildfires is burning in Halifax, the province's capital, while another, much larger fire is burning in the southwestern region of the province. The two fires together have destroyed a total of at least 200 structures, including more than 150 homes, the Associated Press reported.

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A​nother 200 firefighters will most likely make their way to Alberta, but that could change based on how the wildfires in the country develop. Hundreds of firefighters from the U.S., Australia and New Zealand are already in Canada battling blazes.

T​he Halifax wildfire was reported to be 50% contained on Thursday. More than 16,000 people remain evacuated from the fire's path, The New York Times reported. About 2,000 residents have been evacuated from the fire in Nova Scotia's southwestern corner, according to the AP.

According to Natural Resources Minister Jonathan Wilkinson, it is a “simple fact” that Canada is seeing the impacts of climate change. Studies have found that climate change has already lengthened wildfire season and increased wildfire frequency as well as burn area, the Environmental Protection Agency reports.

The Weather Company’s primary journalistic mission is to report on breaking weather news, the environment and the importance of science to our lives. This story does not necessarily represent the position of our parent company, IBM.

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