Forest fire forces evacuation in Western Canada

Ottawa (ANTARA News/Xinhua) - More than 200 people have been evacuated after a fast-moving forest fire threatened their homes in western Canada`s Saskatchewan province, the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) said Monday.

The fire was less than three kilometers from two remote communities in northern Saskatchewan on Sunday, forcing most of the elderly and sick residents to flee, RCMP Sgt. Carole Raymond said.

The people were flown 800 kilometers to the south and housed on a university campus, said Judy Orthner, director of communications for the Ministry of Corrections, Public Safety and Policing, said.

About 150 others were also considering evacuation.

Firefighters and water tankers from neighboring provinces are helping to control the flames, which were caused by hot and windy weather conditions.  end (*)