Fire protection non-profit warns Canada’s wildfire situation is ‘severe’

The Canadian Interagency Forest Fire Centre says it’s been at the highest national preparedness level since the end of May.

It says the wildfire situation across the country is ‘severe’.

Alexandria Jones with the centre says what is really critical is the area that’s burned and how quickly these fires are spreading.

The fire protection service based in Winnipeg is a federally incorporated non-profit corporation that was established June 2, 1982.

More than 480 wildfires are burning across the country, including nearly 80 active fires in British Columbia.

Currently, four million hectares of land have burned, which is about half of the burn figure for this time in 2023 — the worst fire season on record.

The designation means wildland fire activity is significant across multiple jurisdictions and all Canadian firefighting resources are being used.

With files from The Canadian Press

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