Canadian Firefighter Dies , Amid Ongoing Wildfires.<br />Al Jazeera reports that a firefighter in Canada <br />has died while battling out-of-control wildfires <br />in the western province of British Columbia. .<br />The BC General Employees Union (BCGEU) said that <br />the unnamed firefighter died outside of Revelstoke, <br />about 350 miles northeast of Vancouver on July 13.<br />Our hearts and thoughts go out to her <br />family and community, both at home <br />and in the BC Wildfire Service, BC General Employees Union statement, via Al Jazeera.<br />The massive fires have driven thousands of <br />residents from their homes and sent clouds of thick <br />smoke across both the United States and Europe.<br />Al Jazeera reports that over 900 fires <br />are still burning across the country, with <br />570 of those fires burning out of control.<br />Amid the worsening fires, British Columbia has <br />ordered more evacuations and called for the help <br />of an additional 1,000 international firefighters.<br />Currently, approximately 2,000 firefighters are <br />combating over 350 fires across British Columbia.<br />It is very, very challenging across <br />Canada and across the globe <br />right now to secure additional <br />firefighting capacity, Cliff Chapman, BC Fire Department spokesman, via Al Jazeera.<br />This is a very dangerous job. <br />With the conditions we are in, <br />it makes it all that much more <br />dangerous for our staff who are <br />working 14-, 16-, 20-hour days, Cliff Chapman, BC Fire Department spokesman, via Al Jazeera.<br />Al Jazeera reports that over 22.2 million acres <br />have already been burned by the fires, <br />shattering the annual record set in 1989.
