Emergency Preparedness Minister Bill Blair says 2023 carries the unfortunate distinction of Canada’s worst wildfire year on record. The most recent wildland fire forecast was released today. He says in July most of Canada including BC and western Canada will be at high risk. In August while the total area does decrease especially for eastern Canada, at-risk areas will continue to include western Canada.  To date, Blair says approximately 8.8 million hectares of land has been burned which is nearly 11-times the 10-year average.

There are 38 wildfires burning in Saskatchewan Thursday with only one now considered out of control which is the Kenney fire west of Lac-la-Ronge. There have been 286 to date in Saskatchewan and 205 is the five-year average. There are currently 638 wildfires burning across the country and more than half, or 339 of them, categorized as out of control. There are 4,578 Canadians who remain evacuated. Alberta, Nova Scotia, Quebec, and Ontario have all received assistance from the federal government to battle the wildfires.