Wildfires on Canada’s Atlantic coast spur evacuation of 18,000 people

Thick plumes of heavy smoke fill the Halifax sky as an out-of-control fire in a suburban community quickly spread (The Canadian Press via AP)

An unprecedented string of wildfires in Canada’s Atlantic coast province of Nova Scotia continued to burn out of control for a fourth day on Wednesday, prompted the evacuation of 18,000 people.

Fire officials were hoping for a break in the dry, windy weather, but that’s not forecast to happen until Friday night at the earliest.