Smoke from the Kingston, N.L., wildfire is visible along Route 74 on Friday.Paul Daly/The Canadian Press
Federal officials are warning the public that they expect an elevated risk of wildfires across much of the country from now until the end of September.
For August, increased fire danger is expected over much of Western Canada and the Northwest Territories, according to a technical briefing for media. Southern British Columbia, Alberta and Saskatchewan are expected to have the highest risk given dry conditions and warmer-than-normal temperatures.
Atlantic Canada also has increased fire danger because of continuing dry conditions, according to the briefing.
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While September normally sees fire activity start to wind down in northern regions, officials are predicting above-normal activity to continue across the West.
Officials are also expecting above-seasonal temperatures for the next three months across the country.
“This wildfire season is now Canada’s second worst on record in terms of hectares burned,” Emergency Management Minister Eleanor Olszewski said at a Monday press conference. “Wildfires have consumed an area roughly the size of New Brunswick.”
Emergency Management Minister Eleanor Olszewski says western provinces and the East Coast should remain on alert for the possibility of more wildfire activity throughout the rest of summer and into September.
The Canadian Press
Corey Hogan, the parliamentary secretary to Natural Resources Minister Tim Hodgson, said there have been more than 4,500 wildfires in Canada so far this year. That has led to almost 7.8 million hectares being burned, he said, which is almost three million more than the entire season last year.
There are 707 active wildfires in Canada as of Monday, including 68 that are considered out of control. To date, the government has received 11 requests for assistance from provinces, five of which remain open. The federal government is providing supports to Saskatchewan, Manitoba, Newfoundland and Labrador, and Nova Scotia.
As of Monday, there are also 28 First Nations that have been evacuated because of wildfires. Since April 1, 95 First Nations communities have been affected by fires, resulting in 73 evacuations.
The wildfire risk led the Nova Scotia government to take the controversial step of banning activity in the woods, including hiking, fishing and the use of vehicles. Trail systems through the woods are also off limits, and camping is only allowed in campgrounds.
The restrictions are in place until mid-October or when conditions improve. The fine for violations is $25,000.
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Mr. Hogan said that regardless of whether people agree with Nova Scotia’s decision, they should acknowledge that it underlines how severe the moment is.
“I fully appreciate that sometimes from the outside, those decisions look different than on the inside,” he said. “But I think what’s important here is to underline that this is a really severe moment for firefighters and for fire risk in Canada. So it’s important that we all acknowledge that, and we do what we can to try to get these things under control.”
Ms. Olszewski said that about half of forest fires are human-caused, including those that are not set deliberately.
Mr. Hogan also announced $540,000 for two wildland fire training programs, which are expected to train nearly 100 new firefighters in Saskatchewan and Manitoba.