Fighting flames, sparking compassion
As Manitoba and Saskatchewan declare wildfire emergencies, some experts are calling for a new relationship...
Wildfires in Canada have been intensifying in recent years, particularly in 2023 when records were shattered. As smoke has shrouded major cities, including Toronto and Vancouver, people in Canada are learning to live with a new reality. Smoke and wildfires are increasingly a feature of Canadian summers from coast to coast — and while it varies year to year, experts say “wildfire season” is here to stay.
The vastness of Canada means fire conditions, and its causes, vary considerably from one region to another. The majority of wildfires in Alberta are caused by human carelessness, while in B.C., it’s lightning. Drought in one area can bring high risk of fires, while in other parts of the country there’s plenty of rain.
Even still, dry conditions can settle across large landscapes, as in 2023, seemingly engulfing the nation in smoke. That smoke can travel far and wide, choking cities nowhere near an inferno and bringing wildfire to the forefront of the national consciousness.
As climate change progresses, the risks of wildfire in Canada are increasing — droughts, thunderstorms and weakened forests among them. Climate change is a global phenomenon, which Canada contributes to through the emission of greenhouse gases. Wildfires are also themselves huge contributors to emissions, creating a negative feedback loop.
Canada also continues to harvest huge quantities of trees, often replacing them with species that are more valuable for logging companies — and more prone to fire.
In other words, the conditions continue to change in favour of bigger and more frequent fires across the country.
As forests burn, it’s important to be clear about what causes wildfires — and what doesn’t — but also to focus on mitigation, preparedness and solutions for working with fires, particularly from Traditional Indigenous Knowledge.
So, what’s going on and what’s at stake when it comes to wildfires in Canada? The Narwhal’s got you covered:
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