Canadian troops bolster firefighting efforts in west

Canadian authorities are sending troops to help battle wildfires that have already prompted the evacuation of thousands of people in the west, officials said Monday. The defense ministry said it was preparing to send up to 1,400 personnel, including a firefighting force, to help fight the blazes in the province of Saskatchewan.
Unusually dry weather and high temperatures across western Canada have led to scores of fires. So far this year, 565 fires have been reported - three times more than at the same time last year. In Saskatchewan, about 13,000 people have been evacuated. About 5,000 of them have gone to neighbouring Alberta province. In British Columbia, authorities issued an air quality advisory for the city of Vancouver because of the "high concentrations of fine particulate matter, due to smoke from wildfires outside our region." People with chronic respiratory problems were advised to stay indoors and avoid strenuous exercise. British Columbia also has about 70 fires burning across the province. The military said troops would help with firefighting efforts until provincial authorities can handle the situation on their own.