5,000 firefighters battling nearly 1,000 wildfires across Canada in one of worst seasons on record

Prime Minister Mark Carney says more than 5,000 firefighters and nearly 300 waterbombers and other aircraft are battling blazes across Canada as the country experiences one of the worst wildfire seasons on record. Nearly 1,000 wildfires are burning from coast to coast, according to the national wildland fire summary.

Carney visited federal workers in Ottawa on Sunday morning who are coordinating wildfire response efforts in northwestern Ontario and across the country. He said extreme heat waves and dry conditions have made this year "one of the most intense wildfire seasons in Canadian history."

Ontario announced Sunday it was expanding local authorities' access to Canada's national public alerting system as people continue to flee wildfires scorching northern regions of the province. Emergency Preparedness Minister Jill Dunlop said mayors, First Nations chiefs, police chiefs and other emergency management officials can now request Alert Ready messages be sent to residents via television, radio and mobile devices.

Nearly 200 active wildfires are raging in northern Ontario. Premier Doug Ford said Saturday that reception centres have been opened to assist those fleeing the flames. The province has faced criticism for its handling of some evacuations after residents of Whitesand First Nation and Namaygoosisagagun First Nation fled approaching wildfires without help from the province. Recent rain in northern Ontario has helped slow some wildfires, but Natural Resources Minister Mike Harris said Saturday the region needs sustained rainfall to quell the blazes.