Commonwealth_ Canada experienced its second worst fire year on record this year; over 7.3 million hectares have already been burnt this year by fires—twice the 10-year average for the year, according to records from the Canadian Interagency Forest Fire Centre (CIFFC) and Natural Resources Canada. The worst fire ever recorded has involved the military and the coast guard being recruited to help with firefighting efforts, particularly in Newfoundland and Labrador. Moreover, 1,400 foreign firefighters have been sent to help extinguish the numerous fires around the nation.
The duration and extent of the fire season are primarily due to climatic trends influenced by pollution from fossil fuel combustion. Drought conditions and long fire seasons are two of the major causes experts attribute to inducing increased intensities and enormous forest-fire coverage. Long periods of drought are the most ideal conditions for fires to propagate at higher speeds and cover enormous distances.
Gigantic fires are rarely observed in such areas as those that have had smaller wildfire occurrences before, such as Newfoundland and Labrador. One of them has already affected more than 5,200 hectares. This represents a total reversal, as these areas were previously unaccustomed to experiencing such high levels of wildfire activity. Experts are concerned that such regions will have to get accustomed to more intense fires because climate forecasts are projecting more intensification of wildfires over the coming decades.
With an estimated loss of 4.5 million hectares in 2023, Quebec has experienced a less aggressive season thus far this year. A series of spring and early summer rains contributed to this relative calm by suppressing fire activity. However, an unexpected drought in August, a relatively quiet month for the province’s fire activity, has raised concerns, urging caution and persistent vigilance in monitoring and mitigating fire risk.
Cycles and periods of fire destruction have extensive effects on forest ecosystems. While fire is a natural life cycle element of an astonishing number of tree species since it burns away old growth and seeds the land for new growth, the intensity and frequency of fires are now overwhelming the natural recovery of the forests. If the forests are constantly burned too often or too often, they are subject to “regeneration failure,” where the soil will no longer grow trees for decades or even centuries.
The forest’s resilience is already declining in areas of Quebec, the Northwest Territories, and Alberta that were hit by the 2023 wildfires. In Quebec alone, already there has been as much as 300,000 to 400,000 hectares of breakdown in regeneration. Regrowth of forests reduces their carbon sequestration, accelerating climate change by introducing more greenhouse gases into the environment.
Moreover, the massive forest fires also release a tremendous deal of carbon emissions globally. The 2023 fire season accounted for almost a quarter of the overall production of global wildfire carbon emissions for the entire year alone, showing the magnitude of their contribution globally.
In addition to environmental degradation, wildfire smoke also raises serious public health issues. Exposure to forest fire smoke has been linked to a variety of health issues, ranging from respiratory disease to cardiovascular disorder. Wildfire smoke has also been demonstrated to expose individuals to dementia, causing long-term health issues among the exposed populations.
Ultimately, Canada’s ongoing wildfire season underscores the need for adaptation and mitigation measures. This entails bolstering firefighting efforts, optimising forest management, and addressing the underlying causes of climate change. As repeated and recurring wildfires become inevitable, societies, ecosystems, and governments must prepare themselves for the probable new reality in Canada’s natural world.
