Tuesday Jun 06, 2023
Officials in Canada have warned that the country is on track for its most destructive wildfire season ever, as hot and dry conditions are expected to persist throughout the summer.
Fires are currently raging in nearly every Canadian province and territory after an unprecedented start to the fire season. Government agencies said their models indicated an increased risk of wildfires in most parts of Canada through August.
Michael Norton, an official with the Canadian Department of Natural Resources, noted the unusual distribution of fires across the country this year. Fires usually always occur on one side of the country, especially in the west.
However, the current situation is different, with fires spreading from coast to coast. Quebec in eastern Canada was particularly hard hit, experiencing several fires ignited by lightning. Norton expressed concern at the rate of increase in burned area, suggesting record levels could be reached if the trend continues.
Fires in eastern Canada are spreading quickly, prompting evacuations in the Atlantic province of Nova Scotia and coastal areas of Quebec. In response to wildfire emergency orders, mining company Wallbridge has temporarily evacuated a gold project camp in Quebec and halted exploration activities on its Detour-Fenelon Gold Trend Property.
Yan Boulanger, a researcher with Natural Resources Canada, highlighted the exceptional extent of burned areas seen early in the season. Such a large-scale burning has not been observed in the last two decades. Boulanger attributed the trend, at least in part, to climate change, noting a general increase in burned areas across Canada.
As of Sunday, the fires had consumed approximately 3.3 million hectares of land, which is about 13 times the 10-year average. The devastating fires forced over 120,000 people to temporarily evacuate their homes. In addition to the loss of property and homes, the wildfires have impacted oil and gas production in Alberta, the primary producing province, and caused air pollution in Canada and the United States. Fires are the second costliest disaster in Canada, second only to floods.
At a news conference in Ottawa, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau expressed his condolences to those affected by the fires and acknowledged the emotional toll of losing homes and cherished memories. There are currently 413 active wildfires, with 249 of them considered out of control. Approximately 26,000 individuals across Canada are under evacuation orders and the situation remains alarming for many communities facing the devastating effects of the ongoing wildfire crisis.
