[COLOR= windowtext]Sunday, Aug. 3, 2003 [/COLOR]
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B.C.'s worst fire season in 50 years
Kamloops, B.C. — A series of wildfires continued attacking the southern B.C. region around Kamloops on Saturday, part of the worst fire onslaught the province has seen in five decades.
About 8,500 in the Thompson-Nicola and Thompson-Okanagan regions were forced from their homes as flames ate through tinder-dry forests and grasslands.
Another 1,000 people were ordered out of Hillcrest, on Alberta's southern border with British Columbia, after a stubborn fired moved closer to the historic mining town.
Thousands more residents were alerted to flee on a moment's notice as weather forecasts warned of continued high temperatures and gusty winds.
The rampant fires prompted B.C. Premier Gordon Campbell to extend a state of emergency to the entire province.
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[COLOR= windowtext]Sunday, August 3, 2003 Posted: 3:28 AM EDT (0728 GMT)[/COLOR]
Thousands flee Canadian blazes
TORONTO, Canada (AP) -- The worst fire season in a half-century in the western province of British Columbia has forced more than 8,500 residents from their homes, officials say. No deaths were reported.
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Aug. 3, 2003. 01:00 AM
Thousands flee raging fires in Alberta, B.C.
75 homes destroyed in Kamloops region
1,000 evacuated near scenic Crowsnest Pass
KAMLOOPS, B.C.—A series of wildfires swept through southern British Columbia around Kamloops yesterday, the worst fire onslaught the province has seen in five decades.
More than 10,000 people in the Thompson-Nicola and Thompson-Okanagan regions were forced from their homes as flames ate through tinder-dry forests and grasslands.
Another 1,000 people were ordered out of Hillcrest, on Alberta's southern border with British Columbia, when a roaring forest fire came within just three kilometres of the historic mining town yesterday.
The rampant fires prompted B.C. Premier Gordon Campbell to extend a state of emergency yesterday to the entire province.
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[COLOR= windowtext]Sunday, Aug. 3, 2003 [/COLOR]
[FONT= 'Times New Roman'][/FONT]UPDATED AT 1:47 PM EDT
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Ontario, Alberta send firefighting help to B.C.
Kamloops, B.C. — Hard-pressed B.C. fire crews are getting support from Alberta and Ontario to tackle rampant wildfires that have destroyed homes and turned thousands of southern B.C. residents into refugees.
Alberta firefighting crews were already on the ground Sunday, battling a fire north of here that crossed a wide river overnight. An incident-management team was expected to arrive later Sunday from Ontario.
Members of the Princess Patricia's Canadian Light Infantry were also being sent from their base in Edmonton to support the firefighting effort, freeing local crews to concentrate on the most serious threats.
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The fires have forced about 10,000 residents from their homes.
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[SIZE= 12pt]Aug. 3, 2003. 01:40 PM[/SIZE]
Ontario to help fight B.C. forest fires
More than 350 fires burning in tinder-dry interior
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Evacuation centres are set up in Kamloops, Vernon and 100 Mile House.
The province is doling out financial assistance through its emergency social services to evacuees.
Each person is eligible to receive $150 for new clothing. Adults and youth are receiving $42.50 for meals each day and children are getting half that amount. As well, families are getting between $70 and $100 for a hotel room.
B.C. businesses also set up a "Fire Aid" drive, asking people do donate blankets, water, sleeping bags, pillows and light clothing for evacuees at drop-off points at London Drugs stores in the Vancouver area and B.C. Interior.
Volunteers were also working with Kamloops SPCA workers to try to rescue pets and livestock left behind by fleeing residents.
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