Canada’s wildfire response: How provinces are adapting amid extreme heat

From developing models and new technologies to collaboration, Canadian western provinces are looking at ways to improve wildfire mitigation practices as wildfire season heats up.

As extreme heat events intensify in Canada, efforts are under way to better manage and respond to wildfires across the country.

Canada’s wildfire season got off to a slow start this year but with rising temperatures coupled with dry conditions, wildfire activity has picked up in the west, including British Columbia, Manitoba, Saskatchewan and Alberta.

“We are preparing for the potential of significant fires in the next two to four weeks as we trend into August,” said Cliff Chapman, director of provincial operations for the B.C. Wildfire Service.

Last year, the country saw a record-setting heat wave and an early start to the wildfire season with high intensity and overall numbers, particularly in B.C., where a provincial state of emergency was declared in July.

With the effects of climate change seen worldwide, fire experts say there is greater urgency to step up advanced planning.

“We’re all working to adjust what preparation looks like in anticipation of fire season and then obviously also looking at our response tactics,” said Chapman.

When it comes to predicting fires, the B.C. Wildfire Service is using artificial intelligence and data from multiple sources as well as collaborating with space agencies.

Chapman said there is room to continue to grow when it comes to potential growth modelling —  that shows how widespread and intense a wildfire can fire get — and that “allows us to put the right people in the right place for the aggressive initial attack.”