Canada’s wildfire seasons are becoming longer, larger, and more devastating, as per a comprehensive analysis of fire data spanning sixty years by the Canadian Forest Service. The study reveals that the escalating trend is not due to an increase in the frequency of fires but rather a rise in the number of larger wildfires that are consuming more land than before. This confirms findings from previous years by federal scientists.
A study published by Natural Resources Canada in 2019 indicated a steady rise in wildfire activity since the mid-20th century, attributed to escalating temperatures and prolonged fire seasons. While certain regions displayed a clear increase in burned areas, others showed stability or decline. Human-caused fires were believed to be diminishing due to decades of prevention efforts, and though the largest fires were growing, they had not yet taken over the national landscape.
A recent study, featured in the Canadian Journal of Forest Research, extends the analysis until 2024 using enhanced satellite mapping and data from nine additional fire seasons, including notably severe years like 2021, 2023, and 2024. The research shows that the area burned by wildfires is on the rise across nearly all Canadian eco-zones, even in regions such as the Pacific Northwest and Atlantic Canada that were historically considered lower risk due to wetter conditions. These areas are now displaying flat or increasing fire trends.
Furthermore, the study highlights how the largest fires are now responsible for a significant portion of the damage. While lightning remains the primary cause of most wildfires, human-induced fires have been on the rise since the early 2000s. This shift is attributed to hotter and drier conditions, making fire ignitions harder to control.
Chelene Hanes, a research scientist at the Canadian Forest Service, notes that the increase in human-caused fires, especially the larger ones, is due to drier fuel conditions. She emphasizes that these massive fires have reached a scale and intensity where traditional firefighting methods are limited, necessitating a focus on containment and protection rather than complete extinguishment.
The impact of these large wildfire events is becoming more evident on a national scale. The changing dynamics described by Hanes have been observed in recent wildfire seasons across Canada, with notable incidents such as the devastating wildfires in British Columbia in July 2021 and the record-breaking 2023 wildfire season, which scorched over 15 million hectares.
The evolving wildfire landscape is also affecting Canada’s insurance sector, with rising wildfire risks reshaping losses, premiums, and long-term housing decisions nationwide. Insurance industry reports indicate a significant increase in wildfire-related losses over the past decade, prompting adjustments in coverage pricing for high-risk communities. Insurers are adapting to manage their risk exposure, leading to potential changes in premiums and policy terms.
Despite the adjustments, wildfire coverage remains a standard part of home insurance policies in Canada, with coverage widely available across the country. Insurers emphasize the importance of pricing risk appropriately, while reassuring that the situation in Canada differs from California, where major insurers ceased writing policies in high-risk wildfire zones due to repeated catastrophic losses.