Commonwealth_ The 2025 Canadian fire season to date is the second-worst on record, the latest data from the federal government indicate. More than 3.7 million hectares have already been burned this year, Public Safety Canada statistics indicate. That’s nearly six times the size of Prince Edward Island and more than double the 10-year average for this time of year, when typically around 800,000 hectares are lost.
During a technical briefing in Ottawa, representatives from Public Safety Canada presented an update on the state of fires raging throughout the country. They confirmed that the fire situation is extreme, with great concern for the coming weeks. The greatest fire danger throughout July will be in southern British Columbia, but both the Northwest Territories and Yukon will also have rising wildfire dangers.
The extent of this year’s destruction puts the 2025 season in second place behind the record-breaking 2023 season, which stands as the worst single year for land consumed by wildfire in Canadian history. Despite improved monitoring and emergency preparedness, the size and quantity of wildfires are still daunting challenges to response units and communities across the country. The following breakdown reflects the amount of ground burned:
Environmental conditions are the primary reasons for the severity of the wildfire season this year. Environment and Climate Change Canada is forecasting higher temperatures than average across much of the country in August. Provinces to the east of Manitoba, such as Ontario, Quebec, and the Atlantic provinces, are most likely to experience the temperature departures. However, the highest wildfire risk is in the central and western parts of Canada, where it is drier and heat waves are most frequent.
Wildfires are being fueled by a combination of prolonged dry spells, increased lightning activity, and human-caused ignition sources. With minimal rain throughout much of the country and above-average heat, plant life has become dry weeks ahead of the usual season, providing ample fuel for fires to spread quickly and uncontrolled. Residents are being urged to remain vigilant and follow any evacuation orders or safety notices that are relayed by local authorities. Public Safety Canada and other emergency management agencies continue to closely monitor the situation and collaborate with territorial and provincial counterparts to coordinate firefighting efforts and asset deployment.
Wildfire smoke is also raising concerns about air quality, especially in the urban and densely populated communities. The smoke can travel hundreds or thousands of kilometers and affect air quality hundreds or thousands of kilometers away from the literal fire grounds. Health officials are cautioning residents, particularly those with asthma or other breathing problems, to take precautions when the air is thick with smoke.
Among the steps to combat wildfires are ground attack units and air tankers, as well as deploying military forces and foreign assistance where the need arises. Governments at the federal and provincial levels are bound to increase their ready response measures as the wildfire season gets prolonged to keep losses at bay. With more weeks of heat to follow and no dramatic change in the conditions on the horizon, authorities are warning that the fire season could get worse. Combined with dry earth, scorching heat, and increased storm activity, they are still making much of the nation vulnerable to new ignitions.
