Larger than the state of Maryland, large wildfires have spread across Canada, burning more than 3.3 million hectares of land, and causing mass evacuations.
It is rear to witness such destructions, so early in the season, which runs from May through October. Canada is facing its most devastating wildfire season in history. Drought, climate change, and extreme temperatures have formulated a tinderbox.
The crisis faced by Canada has not been limited to the Great North, the fires have caused a hail of smoke, traveling across large areas of the US. Millions across the east coast have experienced deteriorating air quality as fires spread with no signs of stopping.
As climate change, heat, and drought, contributes to warming the planet, these conditions are like kindling for wildfires.
Canada experienced a temperature of 49.6 degrees Celsius, 121 degrees Fahrenheit late last month, its hottest day ever in Lytton, British Colombia.
Canada’s drought monitor indicates drought in areas where fires now rage (Alberta, Saskatchewan, and Manitoba) was particularly harsh. The 10 provinces that are most affected, are experiencing unusual drought and dryness.
Up to this point, the destruction caused by these fires, at this point in the season, is known to be 13 times worse than the 10–year average.
Lightning causes half of the wildfires in a normal season, but their fires contribute more than 85% of the disruption. Humans are to be blamed for the other half, ways from sparks from passing trains to discarded cigarette butts.
In Canada, it is proven to be extremely difficult to control these fast–spreading fires, fueled by extreme weather conditions. Canada has entered “national preparedness level 5” committing all its national resources to the fight to control the fires. President Biden informed us that climate change is the main cause of the fires. The US has dispatched firefighters to assist in the attempts to control the fires. He said to help Canada as they fight record wildfires, we have dispatched more than 600 US firefighters, equipment, and support personnel.
