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May 12, 2023 8:41 PM - The Canadian Press

300 troops being deployed to fight Alberta wildfires, over $2M paid to evacuees

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A total of 433 wildfires have burned more than 410,000 hectares so far this year.

About 200 soldiers from the Canadian Armed Forces have been deployed to help fight fires in Alberta, and 100 more will arrive in the province this weekend.

The Minister of Public Safety of the state, Mike Ellis, gave this information.

He said that members of the military are joining firefighters in the fight to control the wildfires in Grand Prairie, Fox Creek and Drayton Valley.

Ellis said that the state government has paid about two million dollars in emergency payments to more than 6,500 victims of wildfires.

At present, around 16,000 people are out of their homes.

Initially, this number reached a peak of 31,000.

At the same time, forest fires are active in 74 places in the state and the situation is out of control in 20 places.

A total of 433 wildfires have burned more than 410,000 hectares so far this year.

Indigenous communities are the most affected by this.

In many places, the situation is not yet clear as to when the residents will be able to return home safely.

Alberta residents who need help can call the government's helpline at 310-4455.

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