According to ABC News, as of Wednesday, June 4, 203, there are 203 active wildfires burning in Canada. One hundred two of these fires are deemed “out of control,” and their effects are causing dangerous air quality in the northern United States. The Associated Press has reported that over 17000 people have had to evacuate, and this number continues to rise due to the escalating severity of the fires. Continue reading to learn about what’s happening and what is being done about it.

    British Columbia and Alberta are the two Canadian provinces with the most fires, reporting 68 and 53 incidents, respectively. These are the two westernmost provinces in Canada. However, Saskatchewan and Manitoba, located to the east, have recently declared a state of emergency to alert residents. Smoke from the Saskatchewan and Manitoba fires is pooling into the United States, alarming citizens across a third of the country. According to the New York Times, “The National Weather Service issued an air quality alert on Wednesday for New York City and the surrounding areas.” 

    These wildfires are severe and, unfortunately, took the lives of two people who lived in a town in the province of Manitoba. The fire engulfed the entire town, and sadly, the two victims were trapped and could not be reached by rescuers, resulting in tragedy. 

Causes

Wildfires in Canada are primarily caused by two main sources: lightning and human activity. Lightning strikes, especially during large storm systems, can easily start up dry vegetation and forested areas. These storms often move across large regions, sparking multiple, separate fires over long distances through lightning.

Human activity is another major contributor. Negligence, such as leaving campfires unattended, discarding cigarettes poorly, or operating equipment that can generate sparks, can quickly lead to wildfire outbreaks. Additionally, in some cases, wildfires are intentionally set. Overall, human actions are responsible for approximately half of all wildfires in Canada each year.

Climate change is significantly intensifying the risk of wildfires. Rising temperatures and prolonged droughts are causing forests and other vegetation to dry out, especially in the northwestern provinces. As Gordon McBean, professor of geography and environment at Western University, notes, these conditions make certain regions "more vulnerable and likely to have fires occur." So, Canada continues to experience warmer, drier seasons, the combined influence of natural events, human behavior, and a changing climate is increasing both the frequency and severity of wildfires across the country, affecting all residents.

What can you do to help?

1. Donate to trusted organizations like the Canadian Red Cross, Salvation Army, or Indigenous-led groups helping affected communities.

   • Donation Links

     • https://www.redcross.ca/active-responses?form=204MWF&recurring=once

     • https://salvationarmy.ca/get-involved/donate/

2. Support Firefighters and Wildlife by giving to groups like Firefighters Without Borders or the Canadian Wildlife Federation.

3. Reduce Your Carbon Footprint: use less energy, drive less, and support climate-friendly policies to address long-term wildfire risks.

4. Volunteer or Fundraise if you're able, to provide support for those impacted.