Wildfires expected to increase in Canada

Michael Norton, director general of the Canadian Department of Natural Resources’ Northern Forestry Centre, said during a technical briefing: “Drought is a major contributing factor to wildfires, affecting all regions and intensifying in some areas. . “Combined with above-normal temperatures across much of the country, we will continue to see abnormal fire activity in many parts of Canada.”

Norton said hot, dry conditions expected to continue through July increase the risk of wildfires across the country, from British Columbia and the Yukon to Newfoundland-Labrador on the other side of the country.

Explaining that as of July 5, 2023, a total of 3,412 wildfires occurred in Canada, Norton drew attention to the fact that this figure exceeded the number of 2,751 fires, which is the 10-year average for the season.

Stating that forests are burning simultaneously from one end of the country to the other, Norton reported that there are still 649 active fires in Canada, of which 353 are out of control.

The wildfire season in Canada is based on the period from April to September, based on the historical history of the fires.

HISTORICAL RECORD EXCEEDED

“The 2023 fire season is, and will continue to be, record breaking in many ways. However, we are only halfway through the fire season,” he said.

According to official data, the historical record for the total area burned in forest fires in one season has been broken, reaching 8.8 million hectares. This figure is about 11 times the average total forest area burned in the last 10 years. In Canada, which is still in the midst of wildfire season, more than 155,000 people have had to evacuate their homes due to fire and smoke so far this year. Compared to disasters in the past 40 years, this figure was recorded as the “highest number of evacuees in any given year.”

The 2023 wildfire season was also the year that Canada received the most international support in fighting fires. To date, 3,258 firefighters and other personnel from 11 countries have come to Canada to fight fires across the country.

Canada has so far received aid from Australia, South Africa, New Zealand, the United States, Chile, Costa Rica, Mexico, France, Spain, Portugal, South Korea and the European Union.

The total cost of this year’s wildfire season has yet to be determined, but is expected to set a record, said Michael Norton, General Manager of the Northern Forestry Center. “The average cost of fighting fires in Canada increases every year and is now easily approaching $1 billion a year. “I have no doubt that the cost of fire this year will set a new record,” he said. (AA)