Commonwealth _ Canada is facing an early and potentially severe wildfire season, with fire crews on high alert after the worst season on record just months ago. The province of Quebec issued an unprecedented warning, marking the earliest alert in its history, citing rapidly drying conditions due to an early spring, a mild end to winter, and faster-than-usual snow cover disappearance. Alberta and British Columbia also experienced early starts to their wildfire seasons, prompting concerns and proactive measures.
Quebec’s fire monitoring agency, SOPFEU, emphasized the increased risk of fires due to the quick onset of dry conditions. Similarly, Alberta declared the beginning of its wildfire season earlier than usual, and British Columbia continued to monitor holdover fires from the previous year. The B.C. Wildfire Service has initiated prescribed burns to reduce dried vegetation and safeguard communities against potential wildfires.
More than 100 fires are still active in B.C. and Alberta, following unusually dry conditions. Last year’s historic wildfires, though not unprecedented in terms of the number of fires, saw significantly larger average fire sizes, with approximately 15 million hectares burned seven times the historic national annual average.
Researchers are examining the factors contributing to the 2023 wildfire season in a study titled “Canada Under Fire – Drivers and Impacts of the Record-Breaking 2023 Wildfire Season.” The study found that the average temperature between May and October 2023 was 2.2 degrees Celsius warmer than the average between 1991 and 2020, creating sustained extreme fire weather conditions throughout the season.
The unprecedented wildfires in Canada were fueled by a confluence of factors, each playing a crucial role in exacerbating the fire risk across the nation. Early snowmelt, a consequence of changing climatic patterns, set the stage for adverse conditions, diminishing the moisture levels crucial for preventing wildfires. This phenomenon was particularly notable in Western Canada, where a reduction in snow cover contributed to a heightened susceptibility to fires.
Simultaneously, Western Canada faced the challenge of prolonged drought conditions, further intensifying the fire risk. Drought-prone areas experienced a depletion of soil moisture, creating an environment conducive to the rapid spread of wildfires. This, coupled with the early snowmelt, created a dual impact that significantly increased the vulnerability of the region to large-scale fires.
In Eastern Canada, a swift transition to dry weather further added to the wildfire crisis. The abrupt change in weather conditions, marked by reduced humidity and increased temperatures, created an environment conducive to the ignition and rapid spread of fires. The combination of these factors in both Western and Eastern Canada created a widespread and unprecedented threat to the natural landscape and communities.
A noteworthy contributor to the prolonged nature of the wildfires was the prevalence of human-caused fires, particularly in Alberta. These fires, often ignited through various human activities, burned for extended periods, defying containment efforts and exacerbating the challenges faced by firefighting crews. The persistence of these fires led to evacuations in a staggering 200 communities, affecting the lives of 232,000 people.
The study investigating these wildfires underscores the undeniable influence of climate change on the heightened fire risk in Canada. Termed as the “fingerprints of climate change,” the study reveals that Canada is warming at double the global rate. Since 1948, the mean annual temperature has risen by 1.7 degrees Celsius nationwide, reflecting a substantial and concerning trend. This warming trend is even more pronounced at high latitudes and during winter and spring, indicating the profound impact of climate change on the country’s climatic conditions.
