OTTAWA, Aug. 19 (Xinhua) -- Wildfire activity across Canada remains severe, with 582 active fires currently burning, including 31 classified as out of control, the Canadian federal government has said in an update.
According to an update released on Tuesday, a total of 4,793 wildfires have been recorded this season, burning 4.1 million hectares of land. While the total number of fires is slightly higher than the 4,584 reported during the same period last year, the area burned is below last year's 7.7 million hectares.
Weather forecasts indicated above-average temperatures across much of Canada from August through September. Combined with ongoing drought conditions in several regions, heightened wildfire risks are expected to persist.
More than 500 international firefighters from Mexico, Costa Rica, New Zealand and Australia have arrived to assist firefighting efforts in Ontario and British Columbia. ■
