(CNN)Thousands of people in Canada have fled their homes as hundreds of wildfires burn, sending thick smoke as far south as Colorado, officials said Wednesday.

More than 13,000 have evacuated in Saskatchewan, Member of Parliament Rob Clarke told reporters. Evacuation orders affect 60 communities, the government of Saskatchewan said on its website, adding there are 113 active fires.

Canadian broadcaster CBC reported that 15 homes in Montreal Lake had been destroyed by fire. In another part of the province, one cabin owner had been watering down his home at Nemeiben Lake for two weeks and clear cutting some trees.

On Wednesday the blaze was just 330 yards (300 meters) away. Mark Paquette compared the sound of the fire to the sounds at an airport.


<snip>