Early Start to Wildfire Season in Canada Brings Global Support Response

Canadian Broadcasting Company (CBC) has been closely following the wildfire situation in Canada. At a news briefing last Thursday (6-1-23) covered by CBC Senior Writer Peter Zimonjic, Emergency Preparedness Minister Bill Blair said that an “unprecedented” start to the wildfire season in Canada has led to serious wildfires spreading destruction and forcing evacuations across 7 provinces and 1 territory.

According to the report, Blair told reporters that over the month of May, roughly 2.7 million hectares (6.67 million acres), or an area equal to five million football fields, have gone up in flames in Alberta, British Columbia, Manitoba, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Ontario, and the Northwest Territories. “These conditions this early in the season are unprecedented and of course they are deeply concerning to all Canadians,” Blair said, adding that over the past 10 years, the average number of hectares burned in May was only 150,000 (371,000 acres).

Government ministers confirmed that 211 fires are now burning, with 82 of them out of control. Blair said the Canadian Coast Guard, Canadian Armed Forces, Transport Canada, and the Public Health Agency of Canada are all helping the impacted provinces and territory in various ways.

“We have been able to mobilize additional firefighting resources and personal from across Canada and around the world to assist with responses in Alberta, the Northwest Territories, and in Nova Scotia,” Blair stated.

As of last Thursday, there were approximately 2,400 firefighters in Alberta—800 of them from the US and another 224 from Australia and New Zealand. An additional 215 personnel are expected to arrive from South Africa shortly.