As nearly 100 wildfires burn across Alberta, including about one-quarter out of control, firefighters are bracing for ”a long summer.”

 

 

The wildfire season’s seen over 480 fires, destroying almost 700,000 hectares of land, along with homes and businesses.

”Given the sheer number of fires we’re seeing, it’s going to be a long battle,” says Alberta Wildfire information officer Josee St-Onge.

”We’re hoping for some help from the weather certainly, but it could be a situation that we see for the rest of the summer.”

About 2,500 firefighters are battling the raging blazes; most from Alberta Wildfire.

Several dozen have arrived from Ontario.

But as this drags on, more help will be needed.

”Given the amount of fire we’re currently seeing on the landscape, it will be months before all these fires are brought under control, unless we get a significant shift in the weather that brings a lot of moisture,” says St-Onge.