Terrible wildfires in Canada impacts on Canadian Natural Resources amongst others
Canada is experiencing one of the worst wildfires in living memory due to an unusually hot and dry spring, which has lead to a record start to the forest fire season and warnings of extreme risk conditions.&nbsp; Worst affected areas are the central prairie province of Saskatchewan, lower British Columbia on the west coast, and in Alberta there are currently 120 wildfires with 52 considered out of control.&nbsp; Companies affected include Canadian Natural Resources, Heavy Western Canadian Select and Cenovus, and it is expected that 10% of production in the country has been affected by the blaze so far.
Smoke, evacuations

It is easily heading towards one of the worst wildfire seasons in Canada.

Throughout much of northern and western Canada, an unusually hot and dry spring has meant a record start to the forest fire season and warnings of extreme risk conditions.

Much of western Canada is under extreme risk of wildfires due to an unusually hot dry spring More fires have started in all throe provinces since this CBC news report on Sunday. © CBC tv

Smoke from the many wildfires is once again blanketing a vast area of a Canadian province.

After reports last week that most of the central prairie province of Saskatchewan was blanketed in smoke, comes news that much of lower British Columbia on the west coast is now experiencing the same problem with 31 new fires started in the last 24 hours with a total of 144 burning in that province

Even a bright sun barely penetrates the smokey and somewhat eerie sepia haze over Vancouver © Mike Clarke/CBC

B.C. wildfires of note: Map shows more than 61 fires larger than 10 hectares. The fires in yellow circles began within the last 24 hours, those in red are active and those in yellow flames are the largest. © (B.C. Wildfire Management Branch

Meanwhile in British Columbia’s neighbouring province of Alberta, there are currently 120 wildfires burning across the north of the province, according to wildfire information officer Geoffrey Driscoll. Of those, 52 are considered to be out of control.

Largest evacuation in Saskatchewan history

In the central prairie province of Saskatchewan almost 8,000 people have had to be evacuated from homes in the province around La Ronge, about 450 kilometres north of Saskatoon. This latest group is in addition to almost 6,000 already evacuated and receiving support from the Ministry of Social Services.

A massive plume of smoke rises from a wildfire in the LaRonge, Sask., area on Wednesday. There are 114 fires burning in northern Saskatchewan as of midday Saturday. © Saskatchewan Ministry of Environment/ Wildfire Branch/Canadian Press

The Canadian military is now being called in to the province of Saskatchewan. Some 1,400 personnel , including a firefighting force and integral logistics support, are preparing to help fight fires there. Also, CFB Cold Lake (4 Wing) is prepared to provide additional housing for evacuated residents should it be necessary.