Wildfire season tracking to be 4th worst on record

Canada is projected for its fourth worst wildfire season on record. Federal forecasters indicated that September's fire risk could surpass seasonal averages in northern British Columbia, northern Quebec, and most of Labrador. To date, wildfires have scorched over 40,000 square kilometres, marking the first instance in history that forest has burned for four consecutive years in Canada.

A wildfire in southern British Columbia destroyed approximately 150 homes, barns, and other structures this month. In July, a fire ravaged a significant portion of Namaygoosisagagun, also known as Collins First Nation, located 250 kilometres north of Thunder Bay. This fire merged with others in the area, becoming the largest wildfire ever recorded in Ontario, spanning over 3,500 square kilometres.

Notably, the number of requests for federal assistance related to wildfires has significantly decreased this year. In 2026, there have been only two wildfire-related requests for assistance compared to 11 last year. So far, 8,616 people have been evacuated from First Nations communities across the country due to wildfires, a decrease from the 49,000 evacuees last year.

Since 2023, each year has seen the highest number of evacuees, but this year's level is trending below previous year averages. Last year witnessed the highest number of evacuees ever, primarily driven by the Manitoba fires. Currently, there are 580 wildfires across the country, with 30 being out of control. Although the wildfire season is less severe than last year, forecasters anticipate a drier September across much of Canada, except for Alberta and Saskatchewan, leading to a greater fire risk than usual.