Federal Officials Says ‘Unprecedented’ Wildfire Season Expected to Extend Into Fall

Flames from the Donnie Creek wildfire burn along a ridge top north of Fort St. John, B.C., on July 2, 2023. The Canadian Press/AP-Noah Berger

The federal government is forecasting that high wildfire activity will continue across much of Canada this month, with the potential for the fire season to extend into September for southern B.C., the Prairies, Northwest Territories and western Ontario.

Officials say Canada is experiencing an “unprecedented” fire season, charring 134,000 square kilometres to date, more than six times the 10-year average.