Canada and U.S. Officials Give Updates on Wildfires Response

TIME

The effects of hundreds of wildfires across Canada were felt throughout the northeastern U.S., leaving millions in hazy conditions and compromised air quality on Wednesday.

Transcript

00:00 There are hundreds of Armed Forces members now deployed.

00:04 Additionally, the CAF is helping with everything from delivering food and supplies to people

00:09 in Mingany, Quebec, to providing logistics support for water bombers at CFB Greenwood.

00:15 I want to recognize the air quality statements that have been issued by Environment Canada

00:19 because of wildfire smoke. People across the country are being affected.

00:23 We're seeing vulnerable people at risk, outdoor events cancelled, kids having to be

00:29 kept inside at recess. Well, the reality is, unfortunately, over

00:33 the past years we've seen extreme weather events increase in their intensity and their

00:39 impact on Canadians, as well as on their cost to families, to provinces, and to the federal

00:45 budget. We have, over the past years, seen atmospheric

00:50 rivers in BC causing devastating floods. We've seen Hurricane Fiona hit harder than hurricanes

00:59 in recent memory last year, and this year, the worst wildfire season we've ever had right

01:06 across the country. As of today, there are 2,293 wildfires that

01:11 have occurred in Canada. Approximately 3.8 million hectares have been burned.

01:17 And across the country, as of today, there are 414 wildfires burning, 239 of which are

01:23 determined to be out of control. Also, as of today, an estimated 20,183 people

01:30 remain evacuated from their homes and communities. And while this is an overall reduction in

01:35 parts of Alberta, Nova Scotia, and Quebec, where people have been able to return home,

01:41 many are still displaced. And as fires continue to threaten their communities,

01:45 we're working very closely with our provincial, territorial, and municipal partners and First

01:49 Nations partners to ensure that we provide support to those who have been evacuated.

01:54 We have also seen continued impacts to critical infrastructure in Quebec, such as roads and

01:58 rural closures, telecommunication interruptions, and high-voltage power lines being threatened

02:04 by the growing fires. I also want to assure Canadians that despite

02:08 the challenging start to the wildfire season, there are strong plans in place. We work very

02:13 closely with our provincial, territorial, and First Nations partners, and we have the

02:17 capacity to respond. The President was briefed on the wildfires

02:21 in Canada last week and has been regularly updated since. He directed his team to provide

02:27 impacted communities whatever support they need.

02:32 Our team here at the White House is in touch with the Government of Canada. We have already

02:36 deployed over 600 U.S. firefighters and personnel, as well as equipment like water bombers to

02:42 help Canada battle the fires. We also have been in close touch with state

02:48 and local leaders, including in Michigan, Illinois, and New York. And multiple agencies,

02:55 including the Environmental Protection Agency, CDC, and FEMA, are coordinating with state,

03:00 local, and tribal governments to get timely and accurate information out to communities

03:05 about local air quality conditions and what steps they can take to protect themselves.

03:10 I know for many communities out West, this is nothing new. They experience this every

03:15 year, but it is certainly getting worse. It is yet another alarming example of the ways

03:20 in which the climate crisis is disturbing our lives and our communities. That's why

03:25 from day one, President Biden rightfully recognized the climate crisis, climate change, as one

03:32 of the four crises facing our nation as he was coming into the Oval Office after being

03:38 inaugurated, and why he made tackling climate change one of his top priorities and has done

03:45 historic investments in doing just that.

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