Fires (Page 8)

Starting from May, and continuing through the summer months, forest fires are more likely to occur across the country with British Columbia and the Boreal forest zones of Ontario, Quebec, the Prairie Provinces, and the Yukon and Northwest Territories most at risk. Each year, there are approximately 8,000 forest fires in Canada, causing extensive damage and putting lives in danger. Now is the time to learn how to be ready before, during and after a forest fire.

A changing climate causes an increase in volatile conditions that play a part in severe weather and natural disasters. Serious winter storms, heat waves, wildfires, hurricanes, tornados, and flooding are some of the adverse weather and disasters we’ve seen in Canada – climate change can increase the likelihood of these, and in some cases, increase the severity as well.
 

House fires are one of the most common emergencies experienced by Canadians in their home - and many of these fires occur in the winter months. Taking proper precautions can help prevent fires, and can help keep you and your family safe in the event of a house fire.

The Round-up offers a weekly sample of what our sister Red Cross Societies are working on around the world.

Thank you for helping us assist over 10,000 people evacuated from their homes in response to wildfires in northern Saskatchewan. 

Gary Tinker did not know what to expect when he arrived at the Evraz shelter on July 1. He and his family had just spent nine hours on a bus ride from Pinehouse, Saskatchewan. Like the 1,500 residents from his community, he was given little time pack before leaving.

Red Cross volunteer Fabrice Vanhoutte loves putting a smile on children’s faces. So, he has plenty of tricks up his sleeve for the young people in a Saskatoon shelter.
 
“If I see a kid who is upset, I don’t necessarily go right up to them but I stay nearby and play my mouth organ or start showing a card trick,” says Vanhoutte.
 

It’s an exciting time for some of the people evacuated by the Saskatchewan wildfires who get to return to their communities. There are plenty of smiles as they board buses on their way back home. Most have mentioned looking forward to sleeping in their own beds; others are excited to see their pets.