Firefighters In Canada , Make Progress Against Wildfires , Amid Cooler Weather.
BBC reports that wildfires in British Columbia,
Canada, may be easing after over
30,000 people were driven from their homes.
According to officials, firefighters
have made progress amid cooler
weather, but the "battle is not over.".
Meanwhile, the government has deployed
the military to aid in evacuations. .
BBC reports that heavy smoke has continued
to prompt air quality warnings across much
of Southern British Colombia.
As of August 20, the fire covered an area of
approximately 101,300 acres, as British Columbia
remained under a state of emergency.
According to officials, the damage has been
"significant" with two communities, Scotch Creek
and Celista, both completely devastated by the fires.
Canada Task Force 1, a 50-person urban search-
and-rescue team, has reportedly been deployed
to help assess damage in the Kelowna area.
BBC reports that the team is comprised
of fire and rescue personnel,
police officers, engineers and doctors.
Regions including the Eastern Fraser Valley
and Central Okanagan have been classified as
"very high risk" by Environment Canada due to thick smoke. .
The Canadian Interagency Forest Fire Center (CIFFC)
said that 1,037 wildfires continue to rage across the country,
with 650 of those still considered to be burning out of control.