Canada risks another 'catastrophic' wildfire season, government says


FILE PHOTO: The Chuckegg Creek wildfire burns out of control in the High Level Forest Area, near the town of High Level, Alberta, Canada May 21, 2019. Picture taken May 21, 2019. Chris Schwarz/Government of Alberta/Handout via REUTERS/File Photo

(Reuters) -Canada risks another "catastrophic" wildfire season, the federal government said on Wednesday, as it forecasted higher-than-normal spring and summer temperatures across much of the country, boosted by El Nino weather conditions.

Last year Canada endured its worst-ever fire season, with more than 6,600 blazes burning 15 million hectares, an area roughly seven times the annual average. Eight firefighters died and 230,000 people were evacuated from their homes.

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