Endless Devastation
Canada’s 2023 wildfire season emerged as the most destructive on record, leaving a trail of destruction as 6,551 fires ravaged nearly 71,000 square miles of land from coast to coast, according to the Canadian Interagency Forest Fire Center (CIFFC).
The Lingering Threat
Now, in the midst of winter, 149 active wildfires continue to rage across the country, with 92 in British Columbia, 56 in Alberta, and one in New Brunswick, with two classified as out of control by the CIFFC.
The Rise of ‘Zombie Fires’
‘Zombie fires’, a phenomenon fueled by climate change, smolder beneath the surface during the cold months. In British Columbia and Alberta, these fires are currently burning at an alarming rate, creating an eerie winter landscape where snowstorms carry the scent of smoke.
Preparing for the Worst
With warmth and dry conditions fueling the threat, Alberta has declared an early start to its wildfire season, urging vigilance and allocating resources to combat human-caused blazes in Forest Protection Areas.
Climate Crisis Escalation
Authorities are bracing for intensifying wildfires as climate change ushers in more extreme weather events. British Columbia has already begun bolstering firefighting capabilities in preparation for the upcoming fire season.
A Call to Action
In the face of extreme weather displacing hundreds of thousands, Canada’s Minister for Emergency Preparedness, Harjit Sajjan, highlights climate change as the paramount challenge of our era, urging collective action to confront its impacts.