Canada faces a potentially catastrophic wildfire season, with federal officials predicting higher-than-normal temperatures in spring and summer due to El Niño conditions.
Last year saw an unprecedented fire season with over 6,600 fires burning 15 million hectares, which is about seven times the annual average. The fires led to the deaths of eight firefighters and the evacuation of 230,000 people.
This winter’s warmer temperatures and widespread drought have set a concerning precedent for the upcoming summer.
Harjit Sajjan, the Minister for Emergency Preparedness, expressed worries that the wildfire season might begin earlier and end later, with greater intensity.
El Niño and climate change fuel early, intense wildfire season, threatening homes and lives nationwide.Jonathan Wilkinson, Minister for Energy and Natural Resources, emphasized that the increased frequency and intensity of wildfires are driven by climate change.
In response, the Canadian government is investing C$256 million over five years for new firefighting equipment and training 1,000 additional community-based wildfire firefighters. This funding is matched by provinces and territories. Last year, Canada enlisted 5,500 international firefighters and 2,135 armed forces members to combat the fires.
The cost of severe weather events, including wildfires, exceeded C$3.1 billion in insured damages in 2023.
In British Columbia, the snowpack is at its lowest level since 1970, which could exacerbate drought conditions and increase wildfire risk. Hydrologist Jonathan Boyd noted that while the situation looks bleak, the actual severity will depend on spring weather conditions.