The Conversation - Wildfire season is changing in Canada — posing even greater risks to the nation’s communities and ecosystems
“Canada stands at a pivotal moment in wildfire risk management because of expanding WUI zones, prolonged drought conditions and intensifying fire weather converge. Without a multi-pronged strategy, wildfires will only continue to be a growing threat to ecosystems, infrastructure and public safety.”
A devastated residential block in Jasper, Alberta is shown during a tour. Wildfires encroaching into the townsite of Jasper forced an evacuation of the national park. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Amber Bracken
This recent article from The Conversation highlights how Canada’s wildfire season is becoming more unpredictable and dangerous, posing increasing risks to communities and ecosystems. Once confined to late spring and summer, wildfires are now burning year-round. In 2024, Alberta’s fire season began in February, while Québec saw its fourth earliest wildfire since 1973 in mid-March. British Columbia also reported early-season fires soon after, underscoring the shifting nature of these extreme events.
The report emphasizes that Canada’s 2023 wildfire season was one of the most catastrophic on record, with over 18.4 million hectares of forest burned. More than 232,000 people were forced to evacuate in British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan, and Québec. The scale of destruction was staggering—not only in terms of displacement but also in environmental impact. Wildfires that year released over three times the annual CO₂ emissions of Canada’s entire transportation sector, further intensifying climate concerns.
Experts warn that drought is a key factor accelerating wildfire risks. Dry conditions create a dangerous cycle, prolonging hot and windy weather while increasing the flammability of vegetation. In 2024, nearly half of Canada was classified as abnormally dry or in moderate to extreme drought, with agricultural regions hit particularly hard. Research has shown a strong link between low soil moisture and increased wildfire activity, reinforcing the urgent need for proactive fire management strategies.
As urban areas expand into wildfire-prone landscapes, the risk to human settlements grows. Canada’s wildland-urban interface (WUI)—where natural vegetation meets developed areas—is rapidly increasing. Recent wildfires in California have demonstrated the devastating consequences of building in high-risk zones, with billions of dollars in damages and mass evacuations. Canadian cities facing similar expansion challenges must integrate wildfire mitigation measures, such as controlled burns, vegetation management, and fire-resistant infrastructure, into their planning policies.
As climate change continues to drive more extreme and frequent wildfires, initiatives like the Canada1Water project (C1W) become increasingly vital. C1W provides critical data on changing water systems, helping researchers and policymakers better understand drought patterns and develop science-based wildfire prevention strategies.