Canada Faces Second‑Worst Wildfire Season on Record Fires Likely to Continue into Fall
Canada Faces Second‑Worst Wildfire Season on Record Fires Likely to Continue into Fall
LN24 / 3 days
August 19, 2025
2 min read
Ottawa/Winnipeg — Canada is grappling with its second worst wildfire season ever recorded, with 7.8 million hectares already scorched and authorities warning that fires “could continue for weeks,” potentially lingering well into the autumn as warmer-than-usual weather persists.
Forecast & Ongoing Threats
Continued Risk: Federal officials flagged warmer and drier than normal conditions forecasted through end of September in southern British Columbia, Alberta, and Saskatchewan, making regions particularly vulnerable to new wildfire outbreaks.
Smoldering Fires: Julienne Morissette of Natural Resources Canada noted that present fires have a “high likelihood” of continuing to burn or smolder well into autumn.
Historical Context & Broader Impacts
Historic Scope: Canada has burned over 25 million hectares since 2023 spanning this year’s 7.8 million and last year’s unprecedented 18.5 million underscoring a growing trend of extreme wildfire seasons.
Geographic Spread: While the prairies especially Saskatchewan and Manitoba account for over 60% of the burned areas, fires have widely affected Atlantic regions like Newfoundland and Nova Scotia too.
Cultural & Human Toll: Wildfires have triggered mass evacuations; 13,000 First Nations people are still displaced, with many in emergency shelters hundreds of kilometers away, like in Niagara Falls, Ontario. Return is delayed due to damage and isolation.
A Climate‑Driven Crisis
Environmental Drivers: Officials link the expanding fire risk to climate change, citing longer snow free periods and elevated temperatures that are turning wildfires into a year-round challenge.
A New National Reality: Experts warn that wildfires are no longer just a Western issue, as this season’s outbreaks across the prairies and Atlantic regions illustrate the shifting wildfire landscape in Canada.
What’s Next
Preparedness Imperative: Authorities emphasize the need for year-round fire readiness, including improved prevention, infrastructure resilience, and support for Indigenous and rural communities.
Early Forecasts & Long-Term Strategy: As fire danger persists and extends, Canada will need sustained investments and coordination including modern firefighting capabilities, adaptive land management, and climate mitigation strategies.
