Western provinces and the East Coast have been advised to stay vigilant for potential wildfire activity for the remainder of the summer, according to the latest update from the federal government. Extensive areas in B.C. and the prairie provinces are expected to experience drier and hotter conditions than usual.
Federal government forecasters anticipate above-average temperatures across most of the country in the next three months. Unlike previous years when fire activities typically diminished by September due to cooler temperatures, this year is projected to be different. Officials predict that the ongoing large fires are likely to persist well into the fall due to the heightened temperatures.
Emergency Management Minister Eleanor Olszewski emphasized during a virtual press conference in Ottawa that the wildfire season shows no signs of slowing down. She highlighted that the summer has been exceptionally hot and dry, leading to increased fire incidents in British Columbia, Manitoba, Saskatchewan, Newfoundland and Labrador, New Brunswick, and Nova Scotia.
Recent heatwaves and dry weather have raised concerns about fire risks in Atlantic Canada, with 21 fires currently burning across areas exceeding 1,000 square kilometers. Olszewski noted that this wildfire season ranks as the second most severe in Canadian history in terms of the total land area affected.
Data shared by Public Safety Canada revealed that approximately 78,000 square kilometers of land have been scorched so far this year, surpassing the size of New Brunswick. This figure is the second-highest on record, exceeding the 10-year average by more than double.
As of now, there are 707 active fires nationwide, with 68 of them categorized as uncontrollable. Since April, 165 emergency incidents have impacted 134 First Nations communities, leading to 88 evacuations. Firefighters and resources are mobilized in all provinces and territories, with 563 firefighters, including international teams from the United States, New Zealand, Australia, Costa Rica, Chile, and Mexico, actively combating the blazes. A total of 1,600 personnel from various countries have supported firefighting efforts throughout the summer.