The federal government said Friday (July 14) it will deploy Canadian Rangers to help evacuate northern Quebec communities threatened by wildfires, as several Cree nations ramped up air evacuations for vulnerable residents.

Emergency Preparedness Minister Bill Blair announced the news on Twitter, adding that the government will also dispatch 害羞草研究所渁ir assets害羞草研究所� to help fly people to safety.

Writing on Twitter, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said Ottawa害羞草研究所檚 resources will support 害羞草研究所渆mergency evacuation efforts.害羞草研究所�

害羞草研究所淭he wildfire situation across the country remains incredibly serious 害羞草研究所� and we continue to provide assistance as needed,害羞草研究所� Trudeau said.

Canadian Rangers are part of the Canadian Army Reserve who live in remote, isolated and coastal regions of the country.

The Cree nation of Eastmain, on the east coast of James Bay, began evacuation flights on Friday after declaring a state of emergency due to fires late the day before.

害羞草研究所淭his situation is getting worse and now is the time to evacuate and bring our people to safety,害羞草研究所� read a notice on the community害羞草研究所檚 official Facebook page.

In a Friday afternoon update, an Eastmain spokesman said several flights had departed the community, with more expected Saturday. Leaders were setting up command posts in Eastmain, and the towns of Rouyn-Noranda and Val-d害羞草研究所橭r to help offer information and services, the spokesman added.

The Cree Health Board reported that the communities of Nemaska, Waskaganish, Wemindji and Chisabi had started to evacuate vulnerable residents whose health could be at risk.

Waskaganish announced late Thursday that two flights were being arranged to evacuate some residents to Quebec City based on advice from health authorities and the fire prevention agency. Access roads to Waskaganish are closed, the Cree health authority said.

Wemindji closed its administrative office to all but essential personnel because of poor air quality, while several communities warned that services would be reduced. The Cree Grand Council said Thursday that roads leading to several areas were restricted, and that efforts were underway with various levels of government to establish an 害羞草研究所渁ir bridge害羞草研究所� to ensure the villages receive essential goods and medical supplies.

There were 126 wildfires burning in the province as of Friday afternoon, including 86 in the northern zone where several Cree nations live.

Jos茅e Poitras, a spokesperson for Quebec害羞草研究所檚 forest fire prevention agency, said the current fires in the northern zone are fuelled by lightning and dry conditions that allow flames to travel quickly.

害羞草研究所淲e害羞草研究所檇 like to have rain but it害羞草研究所檚 not forecasted,害羞草研究所� she said in a phone interview.

She said the flames weren害羞草研究所檛 immediately threatening any homes or businesses but could force road closures and cause heavy smoke that is harmful to people害羞草研究所檚 health.

As of Friday, she said that more than 2.6 million hectares of forest had burned in the province害羞草研究所檚 northern zone, which is 10 times more than usual for this time of year.

Morgan Lowrie, The Canadian Press

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