Canada has already surpassed a year's worth of charred land from wildfires
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Wildfires across Canada are devouring land at a pace unseen in any year other than the historic 2023 season.
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With more than 3.15 million hectares burned, according to Canadian Interagency Forest Fire Centre data, the season has already raced past the annual average, even when including the past two major fire seasons.
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The 25-year average for land burned is 2.95 million hectares. This year's tally is poised to finish well above normal.
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Dozens of active wildfires are burning from northern British Columbia and Alberta in a belt extending southeastward to Ontario. Many new blazes have started in recent weeks as a result of lightning, which is a common fire starter. The most intense fire activity has shifted its focus westward over recent days, partly a result of high heat in the country's west and increased rainfall in central Canada.
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The wildfires, mostly burning in dense boreal forest, continue to send thick smoke far from the source. Much of southwest and south-central Canada is under an air quality alert Tuesday, including the cities of Edmonton and Regina, where air quality reached Code Red levels in the morning.
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-British Columbia has two of those huge out-of-control conflagrations, among 86 active wildfires there, including one closing in on 200,000 hectares in the province's far north that is suspected to have carried over from last year after smoldering through the winter. Another to its south grew rapidly during recent days, past 120,000 hectares, leading to evacuation orders for rural indigenous First Nations regions Sunday.
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-To the east, in Alberta, there are 60 active fires, five of which are 50,000 hectares or larger and classified as out of control. The largest fire, sparked by lightning and mostly burning north of Edmonton, in oil country and forestland, was past 130,000 hectares as of Monday.
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-Central Saskatchewan's Shoe Fire – 161 kilometres north of Saskatoon – is the largest in the nation overall, now past 500,000 hectares in size. Despite improving conditions, evacuations from 33 rural communities continue, according to local reports. The entire area had notable rainfall in recent days, which has assisted in reducing imminent risks. Hotspots persist, especially on the southern flank.
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Article content Wildfires across Canada are devouring land at a pace unseen in any year other than the historic 2023 season. Article content With more than 3.15 million hectares burned, according to Canadian Interagency Forest Fire Centre data, the season has already raced past the annual average, even when including the past two major fire seasons. Article content Article content The 25-year average for land burned is 2.95 million hectares. This year's tally is poised to finish well above normal. Article content Article content Dozens of active wildfires are burning from northern British Columbia and Alberta in a belt extending southeastward to Ontario. Many new blazes have started in recent weeks as a result of lightning, which is a common fire starter. The most intense fire activity has shifted its focus westward over recent days, partly a result of high heat in the country's west and increased rainfall in central Canada. Article content Article content The wildfires, mostly burning in dense boreal forest, continue to send thick smoke far from the source. Much of southwest and south-central Canada is under an air quality alert Tuesday, including the cities of Edmonton and Regina, where air quality reached Code Red levels in the morning. Article content Article content -British Columbia has two of those huge out-of-control conflagrations, among 86 active wildfires there, including one closing in on 200,000 hectares in the province's far north that is suspected to have carried over from last year after smoldering through the winter. Another to its south grew rapidly during recent days, past 120,000 hectares, leading to evacuation orders for rural indigenous First Nations regions Sunday. Article content -To the east, in Alberta, there are 60 active fires, five of which are 50,000 hectares or larger and classified as out of control. The largest fire, sparked by lightning and mostly burning north of Edmonton, in oil country and forestland, was past 130,000 hectares as of Monday. Article content -Central Saskatchewan's Shoe Fire – 161 kilometres north of Saskatoon – is the largest in the nation overall, now past 500,000 hectares in size. Despite improving conditions, evacuations from 33 rural communities continue, according to local reports. The entire area had notable rainfall in recent days, which has assisted in reducing imminent risks. Hotspots persist, especially on the southern flank.
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