Canada's military to help firefighting efforts as deadly wildfires grip west

• Evacuations orders have been taking place in the province this past week, with the Thompson-Nicola Regional District, among the latest to do so. The district, which covers 11 municipalities in the center of B.C., issued nine evacuation orders Saturday.
• The BC Coroners Service confirmed to CBC News that two people died in the fire that swept through Lytton last week, which set a new Canadian record when it hit a high of 117.5°F Monday.
• Defense minister Harjit Sajjan said Friday additional resources, including 350 military personnel, were being sent to a tactical base in Edmonton, Alberta, to help in firefighting efforts where needed across western Canada this summer.

What to expect: BC Wildfire Service fire information officer Jean Strong told CTV News officials were "expecting to receive some military assistance over the next number of days from the Canadian military."

Of note: At least 719 people died from June 25-July 1 during British Columbia's heat wave — "three times more than what would normally occur in the province during the same period," per a statement from the B.C. Coroners Service Friday.

• Chief Coroner Lisa LaPointe said in the statement that many of those deaths were believed to be related to the extreme heat.