Thousands flee as wildfires hit Canada

Wildfires fuelled by high winds have blazed through more than a third of the town of Slave Lake in Canada's Alberta province, police say, forcing thousands to flee.

The Canadian government has deployed 1,000 firefighters, 100 helicopters and 20 water bombers to battle the fires.

Local authorities said that Slave Lake's 10,000 residents were ordered to leave the town. There have been no reports of injuries or fatalities.

Dana Woodworth from the Alberta Emergency Management Agency and Rob Harris from the Alberta Forest Fire Information Office gave an update to journalists.