Here's what Nova Scotia's wildfires look like from outer space
Photos taken from International Space Station (ISS) show the immense scale of the wildfires in Nova Scotia.
The ISS photographs released by the NASA show smoke billowing from a fire in close proximity to Shelburne on May 29. By May 31, the fire had spread across an area of 17,000 hectares near the southern tip of Nova Scotia, the most extensive forest fire ever recorded in the province’s history.
The photos show that on May 29, a smaller fire could be seen near Halifax. As of May 31, the fire had engulfed an area of 837 hectares near the heavily populated region.
The province of Nova Scotia says, approximately 16,000 people have been forced to evacuate their homes, and 200 homes and other structures have suffered damage due to wildfires.
Natural Resources Minister Jonathan Wilkinson said on Thursday, 211 wildfires had been burning in the country, and 82 of them were out of control.
“It is a simple fact that Canada is experiencing the impacts of climate change, including more frequent and more extreme wildfires,” he explained at a news conference Thursday.
Nearly 1,000 firefighters from the United States, Australia, and New Zealand have joined the operation to aid in firefighting efforts. Additionally, firefighting crews from South Africa are expected to arrive soon.
RISKIN REPORTS
CTVNews.ca Top Stories

NDP to form majority government following historic Manitoba election
Wab Kinew’s New Democratic Party is projected to have enough seats in the Manitoba Legislature to form a majority government, taking the helm after two consecutive terms of a majority Tory regime.
Parks Canada reveals additional details about deadly bear attack in Banff
The couple and dog mauled and killed by a grizzly bear in the backcountry of Banff National Park late last week did everything right, Parks Canada says.
Parents want arrest after son 'deliberately kicked' in neck during Edmonton hockey game
A Junior C hockey player says he is lucky to be alive after his neck was sliced open by a hockey skate last week in an act his parents believe – and the referee ruled – was an intentional kick.
A look back at election day in Manitoba
Manitobans have cast their vote in a historic election. The CTV News Decision Desk has declared an NDP majority win, making NDP Leader and Premier-elect Wab Kinew the first First Nations premier in the province. Take a look at the election night in Manitoba.
Multiple people have been shot on campus of Morgan State University in Baltimore, police say
Multiple people were shot at Morgan State University in Baltimore on Tuesday, according to police, who urged students to take shelter on the campus of the historically Black college.
Canadian condo sales falling amid concerns over interest rate hikes
Amid consistent interest rate hikes and wavering markets, Canadian condo sales are starting to fall in all but two markets in the nation, according to a new report from Re/Max.
McCarthy becomes the first U.S. speaker ever to be ousted from the job in a House vote
U.S. House Speaker Kevin McCarthy was voted out of the job Tuesday in an extraordinary showdown, a first in U.S. history that was forced by a contingent of hard-right conservatives and threw the House and its Republican leadership into chaos.
Train service restored after CN experiences network-wide system failure
Canadian National Railway Co. experienced a network-wide system failure on Tuesday that affected Via, GO and other trains in Ontario. The issue was resolved and service was restored Tuesday night.
Tropical Storm Philippe could impact the Maritimes on Thanksgiving weekend
The Maritimes have been on an extended run of very fair weather the last two weeks while under a persistent ridge of high pressure. Unfortunately, that pattern changes this weekend with the approach of a weather front from the west and a likely post-tropical storm Philippe from the south.