A firefighter died Friday in western Canada, while fighting one of the “megafires” that have devastated the country in recent weeks, Canadian authorities announced on Friday.

It’s the first death of a firefighter since the beginning of this historic fire season in Canada, with more than 900 currently active fires, including more than 570 out of control.

“It is with heavy hearts that our union mourns the loss of a family member who died fighting a fire in the outskirts of revelstokein British Columbia, the BCGEU union revealed.

O last firefighter to die during the fight in this Canadian province it was in 2020.

The federal police and the health and safety agency of this province launched an investigation.

A “heartbreaking” death

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau recalled this Friday that the situation in the country continues “extremely serious”lamenting the “heartbreaking” death.

“We must never forget the risks these heroes took. run whenever they face danger,” Trudeau said.

forest fires in canada

In the country, the number of fires continues to increase, especially in the west, where in a few days several hundred firesmainly triggered by thunderstorms.

A British Columbiawhich recently ordered further evacuations, has requested the assistance of 1,000 additional international firefighters.

But it’s too much difficult to obtain additional firefighting resourcessaid Cliff Chapman, spokesperson for the provincial fire department, Thursday.

“It’s a very dangerous job. The conditions we find ourselves in make it even more dangerous for our people who works 14, 16, 20 hours a day trying to do everything to keep these fires away from strategic areas,” he added.

And the situation will not improve with “the hot and dry weather expected in the coming months”Sarah Budd of the BCWS warned AFP: “We don’t expect any respite from the climate.”

With 9.7 million hectares already consumed by fires across the country – 11 times the average of the last decade – the absolute annual record of 1989 has already been largely exceeded.

O the east and west of the country are affected simultaneously and some provinces not used to fires are also affected.

Only one of the forest fires that affected northern Quebec consumed more than one million hectares.

Canada, which due to its geographical location is warming faster than the rest of the planethas been confronted in recent years with extreme weather events whose intensity and frequency have increased by climate change.