As summer approaches, the province of Alberta in Canada is bracing itself for more wildfires. According to experts, the weather is increasingly unpredictable, making it harder to control fires once they start. An early season wildfire that raged through Slave Lake in 2011 left two people dead and caused over $1 billion in damages. Since then, the province has been working to improve its firefighting capabilities. Last year, around 1,000 wildfires burned through more than 860,000 hectares of land. The government has invested $1.2 billion in wildfire management over the past decade, but fires continue to be a threat. Climate change is causing the weather to become more volatile, with longer periods of drought, increased temperatures and more lightning strikes. This is causing more fires, and making them harder to control. The article highlights how even the smallest spark can ignite an inferno that burns for weeks, if not months. The devastation caused by wildfires is significant and can impact both people and wildlife. This article serves as a reminder that wildfires are becoming a greater concern due to a changing climate, and the need for preventative measures and effective wildfire management will continue to be a priority.
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