‘Unprecedented’: Bill Blair says military help on the way to battle Alberta wildfires, 9 First Nations under fire threat

By Bill Graveland THE CANADIAN PRESS Federal Emergency Preparedness Minister Bill Blair says Canadian Forces personnel are being deployed to help with an “unprecedented” wildfire situation in Alberta.   Alberta remains in a state of emergency, which was declared Saturday. There were 81 active wildfires as of Thursday afternoon, with 23 out of control.   Thousands remain out of their homes and additional fire crews from British Columbia, Quebec, Ontario, Manitoba and Yukon have joined the fight.   In Ottawa, Blair acknowledged the “unprecedented wildfire situation currently taking place in Alberta” and said the federal government has agreed to a request for assistance from the province.   “We are already moving resources into those communities from the Canadian Armed Forces and other resources to provide the assistance that they requested,”…

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