First responders were battling several wildfires in western Canada Monday, in an area facing extreme drought which last year saw its worst-ever fire season.
Many of the blazes broke out just in recent days, though dozens are still burning from 2023, amid government fears of another "catastrophic" summer ahead.
In British Columbia, firefighters are focusing on the central Cariboo region, where a human-caused burn quickly spread over the weekend and is now considered out of control.
The flames covering 1,600 hectares (4,000 acres) are "very indicative of the conditions we are seeing right now," said Madison Dahl of British Columbia's wildfire service.
"It's incredibly dry," Dahl said, adding that the fire was not currently threatening any infrastructure.
However, authorities have warned residents to be prepared to evacuate the area if necessary.
