Canadian federal police say two people were killed near the small community of Lac de Bonnet in the central Canadian province of Manitoba on Thursday.
The bodies of an adult man and woman were found as the province battles a massive wildfire which broke out on Tuesday.
Assistant Deputy Minister of Manitoba, Kristin Hayward, says the fires remained out of control all of Wednesday and most of Thursday. Officials say there are currently 21 fires still burning in the province.
According to local media, there were 80 active fires across Canada as of Thursday. The fires have spread quickly due to unusually hot, dry and windy conditions.
“This fire was started yesterday had a lot of response on the fire and is still considered out of control,” said Hayward.
Water bombers have been seen in the skies over Lake Winnipeg, tackling the nearby fires in Lac du Bonnet and Nopiming Provincial Park.
Nearly 1,000 people were evacuated from their homes.
“My neighbour who saved my life, Davey, she came and said that we are being evacuated,” said Colette Ans, an evacuee.
“I don’t know, it’s emotionally and physically just, I’m numb, I’m numb,” she added.
For some, the fires came dangerously close to their properties.
“Another 2, 300 feet north, it would have burned the whole place,” said Gilles Gaithier, owner of a golf club in the local vicinity.
Manitoba has declared a state of emergency on Thursday in some of its eastern region in the fire zone, to intensify its firefighting, evacuation and relief efforts.
“The Province of Manitoba will be declaring a state of emergency in the Whiteshell Provincial Park. That will allow those who work in the Park Service and others in that area to have the emergency powers that they need to keep you safe,” said Manitoba Premier Wab Kinew.
Officials are urging the public in the affected areas to exercise caution and follow official announcements and instructions. They’ve also warned residents of areas in Manitoba not affected by the blazes to refrain from the use of fireworks and avoid campfires.
Additional sources • AP, EBU