Wild fires burn out of control in parts of Canada, threatening several communities and forcing tens of thousands of people to evacuate their homes. The conditions are so difficult that Manitoba and Saskachewan have declared an emergency.
According to the environmental data of Canada on May 30, “extreme” conditions – the highest level – are also observed in parts of Alberta, northeastern British Colombia, southern areas of the territories and West Ontario. Poor conditions also pose a threat to the Northern States in the United States; North Dakota, South Dakota, Minnesota, Iowa and the United States around the Great Lakes are expected to receive the highest concentrations of smoke in the next few days.
“As we head for the weekend, we pray for rain,” Manitoba Prime Minister Wab Kinev said at a press conference on Friday. “We have not yet seen rain in the forecast. This could really help – more special rainfall. But in the absence of this, the last few days have been very challenging and this can continue.”
When Kinev ordered a state of emergency throughout the province on Wednesday, telling reporters that it was “the biggest evacuation that Manitoba will see in the living memory of most people.” The press conference came after about 17,000 residents were evacuated from the affected areas.
This includes the entire city of Flin Flon, an area of about 5,000 inhabitants. “The only people left on the ground are the firefighters and the people in the office of the Fire and RCMP Commissioner who are there to fight the flame,” Kinev said on Friday. “We expect some, very very challenging conditions in Flin Flon and in the surrounding community.”
Saskachewan Prime Minister Scott Mo announced a state of emergency on Thursday: “This is a very serious situation we are facing,” he told Prince Albert’s press conference, adding that the province should also see some rain. Thousands have already evacuated their homes in the countryside.
Below, see some of the most amazing photos of the incident that devastate parts of west and central Canada.
The smoke rises from Wildfire in Flin Flon, Man., On May 2, 2025 (a photo of the Manitoba/Distribution Government/Anadolu via Getty Images)
This photo, provided by the Manitoba Government, shows wild fires in Sheridon, man., On May 27, 2025 (the Manitoba Government through AP)
This photo, provided by the Manitoba Government, shows wild fires in Sheridon, man., On May 27, 2025 (the Manitoba Government through AP)
This photo, provided by the Manitoba Government, shows wild fires in Wanless, Man., May 27, 2025 (the Manitoba Government via AP)
This photo, provided by the Manitoba Government, shows wild fires in Wanless, Man., May 29, 2025 (the Manitoba Government via AP)
The smoke rises from the Wildfire LWF090, The Caribou Lake Wildfire, in an air photo northwest of the cold lake, Alta., May 27, 2025 (Alberta Wild Fire/Distribution through Reuters)
The smoke rises from the Wildfire LWF090, The Caribou Lake Wildfire, in an air photo northwest of cold lake, Alta., On May 28, 2025 (Alberta Wild Fire/Distribution through Reuters)
The Royal Canadian Mounted (RCMP) patrol vehicle is parked as a water bomber flies over the smoke stream near PAS, Man., May 27, 2025 (MANITOBA RCMP
The smoke rises from the Wildfire G90216 north of Fort Nelson, BC, on May 28, 2025
The smoke rises from a wild fire of the Kiskatinau River (G70422), which caused evacuation orders, ten kilometers southwest of Lake Kelly, BC, on May 29, 2025 (BC Wildfire/Diving through Reuters)
The smoke rises from the Wildfire SWF085 of the Eastern Red Earth East, northwest of Fort McMeri, Alt.
The smoke rises from Edith Lake Wilder SWF076, which forced the evacuation of the nearby city of Swan Hills, Alta., In Air Photo on May 25, 2025 (Alberta Wilder/Diving through Reuters))
A satellite image shows smoke erected from fires in Manitoba on May 27, 2025 (European Union/Copernicus Sentinel-2/Diving through Reuters)