As thousands flee homes across British Columbia from wildfires, chiefs in one region report progress

By SUSAN HAIGH and JIM MORRIS
Associated Press

VANCOUVER, British Columbia (AP) — Firefighters are reporting making progress battling wildfires in a region of British Columbia where homes have been destroyed or damaged in recent days. The good news on Sunday came as thousands of people across the province have fled their homes. Firefighters also worked to keep blazes at bay near the capital of Canada’s Northwest Territories, though no one claimed victory as forecasters warned that drier and windier weather was coming. Fire managers asked people to stay out of evacuated areas for their own safety and to reduce the strain on first responders. Hay River Mayor Kandis Jameson told residents it could be a matter of weeks, not days, before they could return home.