19.67°C Vancouver

Sep 25, 2024 5:31 PM - The Canadian Press

2024 wildfire season is on track to be second largest in last two decades

Share On
2024-wildfire-season-is-on-track-to-be-second-largest-in-last-two-decades
Federal officials say above-normal temperatures and drought conditions across parts of Canada have continued to drive fire activity, with 5.3 million hectares burned so far, though they caution that number is preliminary.(Photo: The Canadian Press)

Canada's wildfire season is on track to be the second largest in at least the last two decades, trailing only last year's record-breaking season.

Federal officials say above-normal temperatures and drought conditions across parts of Canada have continued to drive fire activity, with 5.3 million hectares burned so far, though they caution that number is preliminary.

Outside of last year's roughly 15 million hectares burned, federal records indicate only three other seasons have topped 5 million hectares, and the last was in 1995.

Yan Boulanger, a research scientist with Natural Resources Canada, says as wildfire seasons start earlier and end later due to climate change, it's becoming, "increasingly evident," that Canada must shift away from the concept of a wildfire season toward the idea of a continuous fire year.

He says several of the last 10 years have been above the 25-year average for area burned, primarily due to extreme fire conditions and longer seasons, driven by climate change.

In a briefing, officials say Western Canada is being hit hardest, with about 70 per cent of the total area burned so far this year falling in British Columbia, Alberta, Northwest Territories and Saskatchewan.

Latest news

40-member-provincial-task-force-to-fight-extortion-crisis-in-b-c
BCSep 17, 2025

40 member provincial task force to fight extortion crisis in B.C., 6 extortion related arrests made so far

The B.C. government has announced a provincial extortion task force to investigate the extortion-related files that have become a concern for many areas of the province. The task force will be led by the B.C. RCMP and will consist of a total of 40 members. In addition to the RCMP, this force will include members from the Surrey Police Service, Delta Police Department, Abbotsford Police Department and Metro Vancouver Transit Police. In addition, members of the Canada Border Services Agency and the Combined Forces Special Enforcement Unit and members of the BC Anti-Gang Police Team will also be
details-coming-soon-on-gun-buyback-program-minister
CanadaSep 17, 2025

Details coming soon on gun buyback program: minister

The public safety minister says details on the Liberal government’s gun buyback program will be released within the next couple of weeks. Gary Anandasangaree says the government will provide information on next steps and the mechanics of the program very soon. Anandasangaree says he is confident collection facilities will be available in Ontario even though the Ontario Provincial Police has said they won’t directly participate in the program. He says other police have already signed on though he did not say which ones. During the spring federal election, the Liberals promised to implement
police-investigating-another-prowler-incident
BCSep 17, 2025

Police investigating another prowler incident

The Nanaimo RCMP continues to investigate several reports of a prowler in residential neighbourhoods throughout central and south Nanaimo. In the early morning hours of September 16, 2025, a resident returned home to find an unknown male standing on the patio of their ground floor apartment looking into the windows. The male fled prior to police arrival and was not located. “These incidents continue to be priority files as they are causing concern in our community,” said R/Cst Gary O’Brien of the Nanaimo RCMP. Patrol officers have increased their presence in the affected areas and inve
ontario-premier-urges-carney-to-maintain-tariff-on-chinese-evs-despite-canola-levy
CanadaSep 17, 2025

Ontario premier urges Carney to maintain tariff on Chinese EVs despite canola levy

Ontario Premier Doug Ford is calling on Prime Minister Mark Carney to maintain Canada's 100 per cent tariff on Chinese electric vehicles, saying the measure is critical to securing a trade deal with the U.S. and protecting Canada's auto sector. Carney met with Saskatchewan Premier Scott Moe yesterday to talk about China's canola tariffs, which are largely seen as a retaliatory measure triggered by the electric vehicle tariff. China charges a 76 per cent tariff on Canadian canola seed imports and a 100 per cent tariff on canola oil, meal and peas. Ford's open letter to the prime minister, relea
police-investigating-homicide-on-spruce-street
BCSep 17, 2025

Police investigating homicide on Spruce Street

Prince George RCMP is currently investigating a homicide that occurred on September 16, 2025, on the 1900-block of Spruce Street. “The initial call to Frontline Police officers was received around 3:30 a.m. Investigators attended a residence on Spruce Street to find one person deceased and a second person suffering from gun shot wounds. Multiple people in the residence were detained during the investigation and were subsequently released without charge,” states Corporal Jennifer Cooper, Media Relations Officer for the Prince George RCMP. Police believe this to be a targeted event with

Related News