Major fires in Canada, thousands evacuate

Fire extinguishers have constantly worked to keep the highway to Yellowstone open until residents are evacuated.

Authorities are using water cannons and other means to prevent fires from encompassing the city. Wild fires have spread 15 miles [15 km] near the city.

Winds that blow from the northwest, along with low rainfall, have complicated fire extinguishers. Emergency officials said the weekend fires could reach the city.

“We are facing several critical days”, said Shane Thompson, government minister for the northwest territories.

Hundreds of miles south of Yellowstone, houses have been burned as a result of fires. Residents are only ordered to leave their homes, as fires have spread even more.

Emergency services said that a hearth of fire has spread to 68 square miles [68 sq km].

Thousands of people have just fled their homes since close to 100 fires are in the northwest Territories.

These are the worst fires that have erupted in Canada's history.

This country has faced record numbers of fires this year, which have burned over 137,000 square miles throughout the country, Canada's Forest Fire Centre has said.

By Friday morning, over 1,000 wild fires were active throughout the country, and over half are estimated to be out of control.