Provinces facing hundreds of wildfires in Canada’s 2nd-worst season on record

Experts are calling this year’s wildfire season “unprecedented” as hundreds of fires rage through the country across several provinces.

There are currently 716 active wildfires burning across the country, and nearly every province has a wildfire in it — some much, much worse than others.

In the west, a wildfire in British Columbia has grown again overnight, while in the east, Newfoundland and Labrador are seeing thousands of evacuations.

The Canadian Interagency Forest Fire Centre features a map that paints a picture of just how many wildfires are raging in Canada.

The red circles represent fires that are out of control, sitting at around 158.

The purple represents fires that are out of control, but are monitored — that’s 317 of them.

Sharlene Johnson lives in Newfoundland and Labrador, where roughly 2,000 people have been forced from their homes between two out-of-control wildfires on the Avalon Peninsula.

“Our bags are ready to go there, we have our pet carriers, our pet supplies, so we’re kind of just a sitting duck here right now,” said Johnson.

She hopes the fire doesn’t reach her.

“It’s something that is now very real to me, and it’s terrifying,” said Johnson.

Newfoundland and Labrador’s government is now taking steps to restrict the use of ATVs and off-road vehicles, as the wildfires overwhelm resources available to firefighters across the province.

“We don’t have evidence that any of these have been caused by off-road vehicles,” said John Hogan, the Premier of Newfoundland and Labrador, “but out of an extreme abundance of caution and given the finite resources we have in this province and in the country, we will be issuing an order to declare wide restrictions on off-road vehicle use in forested land — for the purpose of reducing the probability of a wildfire during this high fire hazard season.”

READ MORE: Evacuations ordered as wildfire roars near Newfoundland’s largest city

On the other side of the country, a raging wildfire that has forced evacuations near Port Alberni, B.C., has grown again overnight to more than 20 square kilometres.

B.C. Wildfire Service says an air tanker and helicopters have been deployed to Vancouver Island to try to slow the blaze’s growth.

In the Prairies, Manitoba currently has the most active wildfires at 161.

In Ontario, Kawartha Lakes officials say two wildfires continue to blaze in the province’s cottage country, covering about 27 hectares.

The Ontario Association of Fire Chiefs announced Wednesday it is doubling the Fire Protection Grant from $10 million to $20 million.

It said the grant will help battle the leading cause of death for firefighters: cancer.

“Heroes on the front line often face dangers that impact their health and well-being, devastate their families, and challenge the very strength they put on the line when they answer the call,” said Ontario Fire Marshal Jon Pegg. “The cancers they could face as a result could be mitigated through the opportunities of this grant.”

The worst year of wildfires in Canada’s history was in 2023.

WATCH MORE: Air quality, heat warnings continue in 2nd-worst Canadian wildfire season on record