Canada battles hundreds of wildfires as smoke still chokes major cities

A handout photo made available by Alberta Wildfire showing firefighting efforts at one of scores of wildfires, in Evansburg, Alberta, on Thursday. Photograph: Alberta Wildfire Handout/EPA

Wildfire crews in Canada continue to battle hundreds of blazes across the country as air quality in major cities remains poor and other regions brace for intense heat. And as the country burns, experts warn Canada needs to do a better job of readying its communities in areas increasingly prone to destructive blazes.

More than half of the 414 fires across the country are out of control, said the emergency preparedness minister, Bill Blair – with the hottest and driest months still to come.