The capital of Canada's eastern province of Nova Scotia has declared a state of emergency due to an out-of-control wildfire near Halifax, resulting in thousands of residents being evacuated and schools being closed. Temporary accommodations have been set up by the Halifax Regional Municipality for those fleeing the fire, with mandatory evacuation orders in place.

Driven by strong winds and dry conditions, the wildfire has caused significant damage to numerous homes and hindered rescue efforts, according to authorities. Dave Meldrum, deputy chief of Halifax Fire, reported no missing persons or injuries, although structures have been damaged or destroyed. Meldrum expressed gratitude for the efforts of firefighters and other partners in evacuating a large portion of the city and addressing the ongoing situation.

Halifax, a port city with a population of approximately 480,000, initiated the state of emergency to facilitate the response to the blaze, which continues to burn in the nearby Tantallon and Hammonds Plains areas. As of Monday morning, the municipality stated that over 60 hectares (148 acres) had been consumed by the fire, with around 16,400 people evacuated from their homes. The extent of the damage is yet to be fully assessed, but the loss of several structures is expected.

Nova Scotia Premier Tim Houston announced the arrival of water bombers from the neighboring provinces of New Brunswick and Newfoundland and Labrador to assist local crews. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau pledged federal support and assistance as needed, acknowledging the gravity of the wildfire situation in Nova Scotia and expressing gratitude for the ongoing efforts to ensure people's safety.

Western provinces in Canada, namely Alberta and British Columbia, have also been grappling with unusually warm weather that has sparked several uncontrolled wildfires, impacting oil and gas production. However, most of those fires have since been brought under control. Climate change has been widely cited as a contributing factor to the worsening frequency and severity of extreme weather events, including wildfires, heatwaves, and tropical storms, both in Canada and around the world.

In 2016, forest fires in Alberta's oil sands region disrupted oil production, displaced 100,000 residents of Fort McMurray, and had a significant economic impact. Similarly, a devastating heatwave in British Columbia in 2021 resulted in numerous deaths, triggered multiple wildfires, forced evacuations, and razed entire communities.