As Canada grapples with the intensifying threat of wildfires, an already overburdened emergency room system may be faced with an influx of patients seeking medical care.
Emergency Preparedness Minister Bill Blair announced the grim milestone Monday, saying more than 47,000 square kilometres have burned so far this year.
A battalion of nearly 350 firefighters from the European Union will soon be on the ground in Quebec to help their Canadian counterparts tackle an unprecedented wildfire season.
The defence minister said the military continues to be in "growth mode" due to an ongoing recruitment and retention crisis that has kept its ranks smaller than needed.