Western Canada and the North face an above average wildfire risk in June, federal officials say

Western Canada and the North are expected to face an above-average fire risk in June, federal officials say.

While British Columbia and Alberta experienced favourable spring conditions that led to fewer wildfires and evacuations, officials warned the situation could change rapidly. They added the wildfire outlook is ex‐ pected to worsen in the sum‐ mer.

Julienne Morissette, direc‐ tor of wildland policy re‐ search and operations at Natural Resources Canada, said the wildfire situation na‐ tionally is at "normal levels for this time of year."

Morissette said rainfall in many provinces has sup‐ pressed many wildfires - but that could change.

"Although the current overall conditions are at nor‐ mal levels for this time of year, the risk of damaging wildfires remains significant, driven by warm tempera‐ tures and drought," she told reporters during Thursday's 2024 wildfire season update.

She said Saskatchewan, Alberta and British Columbia face a "higher risk" of wild‐ fires in May.

"I happen to be sitting in Alberta and the situation does look quite different. It is a bit cooler," Morissette said. "The snow melt has been later. There is quite a bit of precipitation more recently in Alberta.

"All that to say, while it looks more positive, we're under the effects of signifi‐ cant drought."

Canada has 87 active wild‐ fires burning, with six out of control and the rest being held or under control. Most of the active wildfires are in Alberta, B.C. and Manitoba. So far this year, 1.47 million hectares have burned.

Morissette said spring is a critical period for fire activity, particularly in the boreal for‐ est, where tree species like aspen, poplar and birch are more vulnerable to ignition because they haven't fully sprouted leaves.

While these wildfires tend to be caused unintentionally by human activity, sparks from ATVs, train tracks, or un‐ attended campfires, wildfires in June are typically caused by lightning strikes.

Looking ahead to June, Morissette said the potential for "above normal fire activ‐ ity" will expand to the Yukon and the Northwest Territo‐ ries.

"As temperatures warm, things can dry really quickly. They look good at this mo‐ ment," she said. "That is why we urge Canadians to follow the restrictions that local au‐ thorities put in place."

In a separate briefing, sev‐ eral federal cabinet ministers spoke about the dangers Canadians should prepare for.

"Unfortunately, this fore‐ casting continues what has become an alarming but somewhat predictable trend of hot, dry summers that present the perfect condi‐ tions for intense wildfires," said Natural Resources Minis‐ ter Jonathan Wilkinson.

Wilkinson said that while wildfires have always occur‐ red in the summer, "what is new is their frequency and their intensity, and the sci‐ ence is clear the root cause of this fact is … humancaused climate change."

WATCH | Natural re‐ sources minister warns Canadians about wildfire risk

In 2023, Canada experi‐ enced its hottest summer ever, the largest wildfires in its history, drought in the Prairies and floods in British Columbia and Nova Scotia, according to Environment and Climate Change Canada.

Assessment reports from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change conclude unequivocally that human ac‐ tivities have caused the planet to warm.

The increase in wildfires, Wilkinson said, is a reminder of why Canada needs to con‐ tinue to double down in im‐ plementing its emissions re‐ duction plan.

Parts of that plan, like the price on carbon, better known as the federal carbon tax, have come in for severe criticism from the federal Conservatives and several premiers who claim they in‐ crease the cost of living.