Wildfires intensify across Canada, Europe and North Africa amid extreme heat
Wildfires continued to spread across several countries on Thursday, with Canada, France and Algeria battling hundreds of blazes as extreme heat and dry conditions fuelled rapidly worsening fire seasons.
Canada battles more than 850 active wildfires
More than 850 wildfires were burning across Canada, according to the Canadian Wildland Fire Information System, with thick smoke affecting large parts of the country and drifting into the United States.
Toronto recorded the world's worst air quality on Thursday, prompting Environment Canada to issue a Code Orange air quality alert for the city and much of Southern Ontario. Authorities urged residents to remain indoors because of health risks linked to wildfire smoke.
Thousands of people have been evacuated, particularly in Northern Ontario, where 136 fires remain active. The provincial government has asked Ottawa to keep aircraft on standby to assist with evacuations if conditions deteriorate.
Smoke has also affected neighbouring US states, with four Republican lawmakers from Michigan urging Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney to take stronger action to reduce wildfire risks.
France sees record area burned
France has recorded nearly 11,000 fires since the start of the year, with about 35,000 hectares burned, already exceeding the total area destroyed during the whole of 2025.
Civil Protection Director General Julien Marion said firefighters have been responding to between 250 and 300 fires simultaneously in recent weeks, while wildfire risk has expanded well beyond the country's southern regions.
President Emmanuel Macron pledged "zero tolerance" for those responsible for deliberately starting fires after authorities arrested several suspects linked to the Fontainebleau wildfire.
Algeria recalls emergency personnel
Algeria has recalled civil protection personnel across 45 provinces as more than 100 wildfires burned during an intense heatwave, with temperatures forecast to exceed 48C through the weekend.
Authorities said 111 fires had been recorded by Thursday afternoon, with 46 still active across 18 provinces. Hundreds of residents were evacuated from several affected areas as firefighters, supported by aircraft and helicopters, worked to contain the flames.
The latest outbreaks come as prolonged heatwaves and drought continue to increase wildfire risks across parts of North America, Europe and North Africa.
Source:AA
