The province of Alberta in western Canada declared a state of emergency on Saturday after about one hundred forest fires broke out there, leading to the evacuation of around 25,000 residents from their homes, in an "unprecedented" situation, according to the province's premier.

Authorities asked thousands of other residents to be ready to evacuate at any time. A total of 110 fires were recorded, fueled by strong winds, a third of which are out of control.

Alberta Premier Danielle Smith said at a press conference, "We declared a state of emergency in the province to preserve the safety, health, and security of Alberta’s residents."

Smith explained that this Canadian province, one of the world's largest oil producers, "has experienced a hot and dry spring, and with many small forests, it only takes a few sparks to start truly frightening fires."

She added that all these factors combined "have led to an unprecedented situation that our province is facing today."

She indicated that about 122,000 hectares of land have burned and 20 towns have been evacuated.

Smith explained that the state of emergency grants the provincial government "more powers to respond to extreme situations," including mobilizing additional capabilities and releasing emergency funds.

A map issued by the federal government indicates that Alberta, which is going through an election period, and a large area of the neighboring Saskatchewan province, as well as a large part of the Northwest Territories, are at risk of fires.

Among the evacuated towns is "Drayton Valley," with a population of seven thousand residents, located in Alberta 140 kilometers west of Edmonton.

In Fox Lake in northern Alberta, a large fire destroyed 20 homes, one store, and a police station. Residents were evacuated by boats and helicopters.