Smoke rises from the 2025 Hubert Lake wildfire, which forced the evacuation of the Hubert Lake Provincial Park area west of Fawcett, Alta.Alberta Wildfire/Reuters
With temperature records being broken across British Columbia and several homes already reduced to cinders in Alberta, both provinces are bracing for a stifling summer and dangerous wildfire season.
Last weekend, B.C. topped 30 degrees in the Interior, with Vancouver reaching 23.9 degrees, breaking a May record that had stood for 128 years. Across the provincial border, Southern Alberta has also experienced extreme conditions, with a warmer than usual February drying out the region, despite a record snowpack in the mountains.
Environment Canada said that combined with the already dry environment and the possibility that precipitation could be limited in May and June, this year’s wildfire season could be catastrophic.
Last year was Canada’s second-worst wildfire season on record after 2023, when 15 million hectares were consumed by the flames. In recent years, Canada’s two westernmost provinces have borne the brunt of the destruction, with dozens of communities coming under threat and thousands of people forced from their homes.
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In 2021, a heat dome hit cities and towns across B.C., with the community of Lytton devastated by a deadly wildfire that killed two people and burned 520 buildings. Temperatures hit 49.6 degrees that summer and 90 per cent of the town was set ablaze.
Jasper, Alta., located inside the national park, was also nearly decimated by a 2024 fire. Thousands of residents and tourists were forced to evacuate the mountain town after towering flames raced through the forest. Despite ample warning, 3,000 hectares in the area were on fire within hours, destroying homes and other infrastructure.
Lytton and Jasper are still trying to recover from the aftermath.
Both provinces have learned lessons from these fires and have been adding resources over the years to prepare.
Alberta has invested in new firefighting equipment and has hired more than 550 firefighters this season. The province has also added a $125,000 mutual-aid incentive to municipalities seeking help from the government.
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Earlier this month, Sandy Beach, a village 65 kilometres northwest of Edmonton, was hit by an early-season wildfire. The town was placed under a state of emergency after the fire destroyed three homes, but the order was rescinded a few days later.
“It definitely caught us off guard. We had four inches of snow last week,” said Sandy Beach Mayor David Noyes.
Fire crews managed to contain the fire and the incident is now under investigation.
“I think it’s a pretty big eye-opener for our village,” Mr. Noyes said.
In B.C., the warmer temperatures have forced several changes. As of May 1, Metro Vancouver has banned all lawn watering to preserve supply for firefighting efforts. This is the first time that it has skipped stage one water restrictions and moved directly into stage two.
Elisa Houchen, a fire information officer at the BC Wildfire Service, said that water restrictions are more stringent than they normally would be at this time of year. But she said they are necessary to prepare for what is to come this fire season.
Ms. Houchen said the provincial wildfire service has also had a record number of firefighter applicants this year. “We are fully staffed up. We have crews ready and available on standby to respond in any situation that arises,” she said.
The service has also invested $14-million in on-the-ground equipment such as pumps and firetrucks.
Campfire bans have gone into effect on B.C.’s South Coast. This is also the earliest campfire ban ever issued by the Coastal Fire Centre.
Christopher Carlsten, head of the University of British Columbia’s respiratory medicine division, says Canadians need to take care of their health during wildfire season.
“We suspect the exposure to moderate levels of fire smoke over multiple days, weeks, months … can lead to significant lung health problems,” he said.
Dr. Carlsten recommends wearing masks outside, staying fit and seeking clean air shelters during heat waves. Those with underlying health concerns, such as asthma, must be extra cautious, he said.
“Be vigilant with medications and increase doses of your inhaler in advance of the fire period. It is better to get ahead of it,” he said.
As of Friday evening, there were 20 active wildfires in B.C. and eight in Alberta.