Canadian Firefighter Dies , Amid Ongoing Wildfires.
Al Jazeera reports that a firefighter in Canada has died while battling out-of-control wildfires in the western province of British Columbia.
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The BC General Employees Union (BCGEU) said that the unnamed firefighter died outside of Revelstoke, about 350 miles northeast of Vancouver on July 13.
Our hearts and thoughts go out to her family and community, both at home and in the BC Wildfire Service, BC General Employees Union statement, via Al Jazeera.
The massive fires have driven thousands of residents from their homes and sent clouds of thick smoke across both the United States and Europe.
Al Jazeera reports that over 900 fires are still burning across the country, with 570 of those fires burning out of control.
Amid the worsening fires, British Columbia has ordered more evacuations and called for the help of an additional 1,000 international firefighters.
Currently, approximately 2,000 firefighters are combating over 350 fires across British Columbia.
It is very, very challenging across Canada and across the globe right now to secure additional firefighting capacity, Cliff Chapman, BC Fire Department spokesman, via Al Jazeera.
This is a very dangerous job.
With the conditions we are in, it makes it all that much more dangerous for our staff who are working 14-, 16-, 20-hour days, Cliff Chapman, BC Fire Department spokesman, via Al Jazeera.
Al Jazeera reports that over 22.2 million acres have already been burned by the fires, shattering the annual record set in 1989.
