Canada wildfire season on track to be fourth worst on record

Canada is on track for its fourth worst wildfire season on record, with more than 40,000 square kilometres of forest burned so far this year. This marks the first time in history that such a large area of forest has burned for four consecutive years.

Federal forecasters in Ottawa report that September fire risks are expected to be well above seasonal averages in northern British Columbia, northern Quebec, and most of Labrador. While there are currently 580 active wildfires across the country, 30 are considered out of control.

Despite the high risk, government officials noted that requests for federal assistance have dropped significantly compared to last year. Craig Oldham, director general with public safety and emergency preparedness, stated that only two requests for assistance have been received to date in 2026, compared to 11 during the previous year. Experts suggest that while the forecast indicates above-average danger for September, significant fire growth may not be likely due to typically low seasonal baseline danger in many affected regions.