Federal Officials Warn of ‘Especially Severe’ Wildfire Season in Canada

A helicopter drops water on a hot spot at the site of a wildfire in Tantallon, Nova Scotia, on June 1, 2023, in this handout photo. The Canadian Press/HO, Communications Nova Scotia

As several provinces struggle to contain out-of-control wildfires, federal officials warned on June 5 that Canada will likely see an “especially severe” wildfire season.

“Our modelling shows that this may be an especially severe wildfire season throughout the summer,” Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said at a press conference in Ottawa.

Emergency Preparedness Minister Bill Blair told reporters that there are 413 wildfires burning across the country, 249 of which are deemed to be out of control.

There are also 18 active wildfires specifically impacting First Nations in Alberta, Saskatchewan, the Northwest Territories, Quebec, and Nova Scotia, he said, and as of the afternoon of June 4, an estimated 26,000 people remain evacuated from their homes across those provinces as well as in British Columbia.

A total of 2,214 wildfires have occurred nationally so far this year, and approximately 3.3 million hectares of forest have been burned, Blair said.

Mike Norton with the Northern Forestry Centre at the Department of Natural Resources told reporters that this number of fires across the country at this time of year is not normal, as the 10-year average over the same timeframe was 1,624 fires and 254,429 hectares burned.

Blair said the federal government has responded to aid requests from Alberta, Nova Scotia, and Quebec, and has also agreed to send Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) members to assist.

Trudeau said that given the “very serious projections” for this summer’s wildfire season, he had asked CAF Chief of the Defence Staff General Wayne Eyre whether Canada would have enough resources to deal with them.

“With the given projections, it is expected that we have enough resources to cover the summer,” Trudeau said. “If things get worse, we are developing contingency plans, and we will of course make sure that we are there, whether it’s leaning more on international supports, whether it’s setting up other resources, We will be there  to ensure that all Canadians are protected right through this summer.”

Wildfires ‘Some of the Most Severe Ever Witnessed in Canada’

Blair said that with an estimated 26,000 people under evacuation orders across the country, the images of wildfires seen so far “are some of the most severe ever witnessed in Canada.”

“The current forecast for the next few months indicates the potential for continued higher-than-normal fire activity,” the minister said.

“Releasing the information that we’re providing today will allow people and governments to prepare, and because they know that when they are prepared, we can reduce the risks that these events pose and it enables us to position the resources and the supports that Canadians may need and be ready to mobilize them.”

Blair said the Government Operations Centre—which supports the federal government’s planning and coordination in response to all emergencies—has ensured a “swift” response to the wildfires. He said federal assistance has been quickly offered to Alberta, Nova Scotia, and Quebec, and CAF personnel and assets have been supplied when needed.

The Nova Scotia government tweeted on June 5 that it had air resources that included four helicopters and four water bombers from Montana to help fight the wildfires in its province.

Blair also acknowledged that support has been sent from the United States, Australia, New Zealand, and South Africa. “We are expecting further deployments from these countries, including France, in the coming days and weeks,” he said.

Updated Models ‘Sobering’

Natural Resources Minister Jonathan Wilkinson said the updated modelling on wildfires is “sobering,” as it shows that the risk of wildfires is set to increase in June and remain “unusually high” throughout the summer across Canada. “It shows us that this year’s already devastating season could well get worse,” he said.

Wilkinson noted that the model anticipates the “risk levels, not actual fires.” He said that with “good fortune,” it’s possible that the full extent of the risk will not occur, but that provinces and territories would need to be on “high alert” throughout this wildfire season.

The minister said Natural Resources Canada will be investing $170 million in a WildFireSat mission, the world’s first purpose-built public satellite system for monitoring fires, which is targeted to launch in 2029.

“Once operational, WildFireSat help reduce wildfire losses; help us defend communities and avoid unnecessary evacuations; allow us to better protect our resources, infrastructure, and environment; inform emergency decisions; reduce health problems associated with smoke and air pollution; and help prevent more disastrous fires,” Wilkinson said.