Thousands of people in Western Canada fled their homes on Sunday (May 12) as the season’s wildfires began earlier than usual. Environment Canada issued a special air quality statement that extends from British Columbia to Ontario, the news agency Reuters reported early Monday.

The government, meanwhile, said that evacuation orders were issued over the weekend in small towns in Alberta and Manitoba province, while smoke from wildfires drifted over much of western Canada, lowering air quality dramatically.

British Columbia’s Fort Nelson town was among the worst affected regions. Speaking to the news agency AFP, NRRM Mayor Rob Fraser said that fires were all around Fort Nelson from the west to the northeast.

Fraser urged hundreds of people who stayed put to get out of the town. 

AFP reported that a fire covering an area of 6,200 acres was burning 3.5 kilometres to the west of Fort Nelson. Nearly 3,500 were evacuated by Friday evening. Fraser told the news agency on Sunday that cooler weather overnight helped slow the advance of the fire but strong winds later picked up in the afternoon, which could fan the flames.

In Alberta, 43 fires were burning, including one 15 kilometres from the town of Fort McMurray, forcing people to prepare for possible evacuations.

Evacuation alerts were in place in several municipalities of Alberta. Though there was no immediate risk, the alerts ensured that residents were prepared to evacuate if conditions changed. 

The government has warned that Canada would face another “catastrophic” wildfire season as it forecast higher-than-normal spring and summer temperatures across much of the country. 

Also watch | Wildfires: The burning issue

Last year was Canada’s worst ever for forest fires, with flames burning from coast to coast and charring more than 15 million hectares of land. Eight firefighters died and 230,000 people were evacuated.

(With inputs from agencies)