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Canada is experiencing its worst wildfire season of the 21st century.

B.C.’s emergency supports are outdated, under-resourced and fail to meet diverse needs, says report
Ombudsperson Jay Chalke speaks during a press conference in Victoria, B.C., on Thursday, April 6, 2017. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Chad Hipolito
Unreleased Nova Scotia report details major gaps in cell coverage
A motorist stops to survey the damage to a washed-out bridge following a major rain event near Newport Corner, N.S. on Sunday, July 23, 2023. Nova Scotia’s Department of Public Works says it’s repaired nearly 500 sections of damaged paved and gravel roads and 60 road shoulders since last weekend's record storm caused severe flooding. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darren Calabrese
State of emergency lifted in West Kelowna, B.C., after McDougall Creek wildfire
<div>Central Okanagan Emergency Operations has lifted the state of local emergency in West Kelowna, B.C., more than a month after the McDougall Creek wildfire devastated the area. Burned trees are seen above a neighbourhood in West Kelowna, B.C., Friday, Aug. 25, 2023. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Marissa Tiel</div>

What to know about wildfires in Canada


Latest news and updates about wildfires

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B.C.’s emergency supports are outdated, under-resourced and fail to meet diverse needs, says report
Ombudsperson Jay Chalke speaks during a press conference in Victoria, B.C., on Thursday, April 6, 2017. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Chad Hipolito
canada
Unreleased Nova Scotia report details major gaps in cell coverage
A motorist stops to survey the damage to a washed-out bridge following a major rain event near Newport Corner, N.S. on Sunday, July 23, 2023. Nova Scotia’s Department of Public Works says it’s repaired nearly 500 sections of damaged paved and gravel roads and 60 road shoulders since last weekend's record storm caused severe flooding. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darren Calabrese
canada
State of emergency lifted in West Kelowna, B.C., after McDougall Creek wildfire
<div>Central Okanagan Emergency Operations has lifted the state of local emergency in West Kelowna, B.C., more than a month after the McDougall Creek wildfire devastated the area. Burned trees are seen above a neighbourhood in West Kelowna, B.C., Friday, Aug. 25, 2023. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Marissa Tiel</div>
canada
N.W.T. Premier Caroline Cochrane says she won’t run for re-election in upcoming vote
Premier Caroline Cochrane of the Northwest Territories has announced she won't be running for re-election in November. Cochrane speaks about the wildfire situation after visiting evacuees in Edmonton, Wednesday, Aug. 30, 2023. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jason Franson.
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Nearly a billion in wildfire costs helps to push B.C.’s projected deficit to $6.7B
British Columbia's projected deficit in the 2023-2024 fiscal year has grown by more than $2 billion from original estimates to reach almost $7 billion. Minister of Finance Katrine Conroy arrives to the podium during a press conference at the legislature in Victoria, on Wednesday, August 30, 2023. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Chad Hipolito
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Fire danger drops, bans lifting as cooler weather eases B.C.’s wildfire season
Burned trees are seen above a neighbourhood in West Kelowna, B.C., on Friday, Aug. 25, 2023. Evacuation orders and alerts have been lifted for all but one property in West Kelowna, about five weeks after thousands were chased out by a fast-moving wildfire. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Marissa Tiel
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Conditional sentence for B.C. woman who set fires at start of 2022 wildfire season
A 43-year-old Kamloops, B.C., woman has been sentenced for two arson fires she admitted to setting. A warning sign about fire risk is seen as smoke from wildfires fills the air, in Kelowna, B.C., Saturday, Aug. 19, 2023. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck
opinion
Trees burn – of course they do. That doesn’t make them climate-change villains
Peter Kuitenbrouwer
canada
B.C. mule deer stressed by wildfire, but still much to learn about wildlife impacts
Deer cross a road in a neighborhood filled with smoke due to a nearby wildfire in the Glenmore Highlands area of Kelowna, British Columbia, Canada, August 19, 2023. REUTERS/Chris Helgren
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Smoke prevents Yellowknife from holding welcome home celebration
Heavy smoke from wildfires in northern Alberta and British Columbia fill the air at 9am Mountain Daylight Time in Yellowknife, Northwest Territories on Saturday, Sept. 23, 2023.
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As wildfires closed in on Yellowknife, these firefighters held the line
opinion
As an environmentalist, I knew about wildfire risks. But this time, the fire was headed right to my doorstep
Jim Cooperman
british columbia
First days of autumn expected to be cool and damp over most of British Columbia
The City of Kelowna, B.C., declared a state of emergency, as fire crews responded to spot fires coming across Okanagan Lake from the McDougall Creek wildfire. An evacuation order has been issued for the Clifton Road North and McKinley neighbourhoods
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Destructive West Kelowna, B.C., wildfire now considered ‘held’
The McDougall Creek wildfire burns on the mountainside above lakefront homes in West Kelowna, B.C., on Friday, August 18, 2023. The large wildfire that destroyed dozens of homes in West Kelowna, B.C., is now considered "held," after raging out of control since mid-August. . THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck
books
Shortlist for $75,000 Hilary Weston Writers’ Trust Prize for Nonfiction includes past winner John Vaillant, scholar Christina Sharpe
world
Climate change may mean ‘hundreds of billions’ at risk in U.S. housing market
(FILES) Plumes of smoke rise as wildfire approaches a home during the Fairview Fire near Hemet, California, in Riverside County on September 7, 2022. The US state of California sued five of the world's largest oil companies on September 15, 2023, alleging the firms caused billions of dollars in damages and misled the public by minimizing the risks from fossil fuels, according to a court filing. It follows numerous other cases brought by US cities, counties and states against fossil fuel interests over the impact of climate change as well as alleged disinformation campaigns spanning decades. (Photo by Patrick T. FALLON / AFP) (Photo by PATRICK T. FALLON/AFP via Getty Images)
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B.C. health minister says health care operations will need to grow in summer months to handle wildfire evacuees
A resident is placed in an ambulance as paramedics assist in the evacuation of a seniors care facility due to wildfires, in Kelowna, B.C., Friday, Aug. 18, 2023. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck
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B.C. to introduce new disaster management laws to address preparedness, mitigation
Minister of Emergency Management and Climate Readiness Bowinn Ma, left, and B.C. Premier David Eby walk together as they arrive for a meeting at the Columbia Shuswap Regional District offices, in Salmon Arm, B.C., Monday, Sept. 11, 2023. Ma says the province will soon be ready to introduce new laws to govern responses to increasingly frequent natural disasters such as wildfires and flooding. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck
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More evacuation alerts for southern B.C., wildfire but cooler weather could help
Burned trees are seen above a neighbourhood in West Kelowna, B.C. on Friday, Aug. 25, 2023. Most of the District of Peachland along the west side of Okanagan Lake is now on evacuation alert as drought, heat and windy conditions in southern British Columbia fuel the late-season Glen Lake wildfire.THE CANADIAN PRESS/Marissa Tiel
world
Dropping in to fight wildfires with the smokejumpers
Video4:04
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B.C. municipal politicians to send provincial government warning on response to wildfires
Burned vehicles are seen at a property destroyed by the Bush Creek East wildfire, in Scotch Creek, B.C., Wednesday, Sept. 6, 2023. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck
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Evacuation orders issued near Peachland; more than 400 wildfires burn across B.C.
A third minor earthquake has struck the British Columbia coast today. British Columbia's provincial flag flies on a flag pole in Ottawa, Friday July 3, 2020. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Adrian Wyld
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Two visible wildfires burning near Pemberton, BC Wildfire Service says
The Spetch Creek wildfire burns near Pemberton, B.C. in this recent handout photo. The BC Wildfire Service says crews are responding to two "highly visible" out of control wildfires in the Pemberton, B.C., area. It says both will likely remain visible throughout the weekend due to forecasted windy conditions. THE CANADIAN PRESS/HO, BC Wildfire Service *MANDATORY CREDIT*
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B.C. to end state of emergency as wildfire risk winds down
<div>The Central Okanagan Regional Operations centre says residents of 16 properties along Bear Creek Road are allowed to go home, although they remain on evacuation alert and must be ready to leave again if the McDougall Creek wildfire flares again. Burned trees are seen above a neighbourhood in West Kelowna, B.C. during a visit by Prime Minister Justin Trudeau in West Kelowna, B.C., Friday, Aug. 25, 2023. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Marissa Tiel</div>
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B.C. facing wildfires through fall after hot, dry summer
As British Columbia awaits the latest update due later today on fire, drought and flood conditions, residents in an area south of Kamloops can relax as all evacuation orders and alerts related to a nearby fire have ended. Trees burned by the Bush Creek East Wildfire are seen above Little Shuswap Lake in Squilax, B.C., Monday, Sept. 11, 2023. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck
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Essential workers to come back as Hay River, N.W.T., eyes Sunday for public’s return
A wildfire burns south of Enterprise, N.W.T., Thursday, Aug. 17, 2023. A wildfire official says the town of Hay River will be at risk over the next few days with strong winds and high temperatures making a dangerous situation even worse. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jeff McIntosh
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Parents call for better air quality in schools to protect against viruses, wildfire smoke
Several grassroots groups of parents, health-care workers and teachers have sprung up across Canada to lobby for safer schools, including improved air quality. A classroom is seen during a media tour of an elementary school in Vancouver, Wednesday, Sept. 2, 2020. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jonathan Hayward
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B.C. officials warn residents to take care when they return to fire zones
The latest evacuation order issued due to a wildfire in British Columbia covers a rural area north of Prince George in a region straddling the boundaries of two regional governments. Fires burn near Great Beaver Lake, B.C.in this recent file photo. THE CANADIAN PRESS/HO-BC Wildfire Service
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B.C. considering adopting Australia’s use of volunteers to bolster fire response, Eby says
B.C. Premier David Eby looks out at Scotch Creek, B.C., while viewing areas of the Shuswap affected by the Bush Creek East wildfire on a helicopter flight from Kamloops to Salmon Arm, on Monday, September 11, 2023. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck
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Researchers simulating wildfire evacuations for five Western Canadian communities
British Columbia Premier David Eby has declared a provincewide state of emergency in response to "unprecedented" wildfires that have forced the evacuation of thousands more people in the past hour. Evacuees leave with a trailer of belongings after a wildfire evacuation alert was upgraded to an order and they were forced to leave the Wilden neighbourhood near Knox Mountain, in Kelowna, B.C., Friday, Aug. 18, 2023. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck
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B.C.’s wildfire crisis was forecast, but it arrived decades sooner than expected
A helicopter being used to battle hot spots near Sorrento lands in Squilax, B.C., Wednesday, Sept. 6, 2023, as trees burned by the Bush Creek East wildfire are seen on a mountainside. The onset of large, severe wildfires that threaten communities year after year has occurred earlier in British Columbia than previous research projected, and experts say the record-shattering 2023 season must serve as a springboard for action. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck
world
Greece storm death toll rises to 15 after four more bodies found
A flooded area is seen in the aftermath of Storm Daniel, in Megala Kalyvia, Greece, September 9, 2023. REUTERS/Giannis Floulis
world
Number of people missing following devastating Maui wildfires has dropped to 66, governor says
FILE - Charred remains of homes are visible following a wildfire in Lahaina, Hawaii, Aug. 22, 2023. The number of people still missing following wildfires that destroyed the historic community of Lahaina a month ago has dropped, Hawaii Gov. Josh Green said Friday, Sept. 8, 2023, while the number of confirmed deaths has remained at 115. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong, File)
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Town of Hay River, N.W.T., releases plans for structured return for wildfire evacuees
A wildfire burns south of Enterprise, N.W.T., Thursday, Aug. 17, 2023. A wildfire official says the town of Hay River will be at risk over the next few days with strong winds and high temperatures making a dangerous situation even worse. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jeff McIntosh
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Quebec man facing arson charges in northern wildfires detained ahead of bail hearing
A Quebec man facing arson charges in connection with forest fires earlier this summer in the province's north will remained detained at least until a bail hearing scheduled for Monday. Quebec provincial police headquarters seen on Monday, May 29, 2023, in Montreal. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Christinne Muschi
world
Greece deploys boats and helicopters to rescue hundreds from floods after huge storm
A man is carried away as people are evacuated from the flooded village, in the aftermath of Storm Daniel in central Greece, in Megala Kalyvia, Greece, September 8, 2023. REUTERS/Alexandros Avramidis TPX IMAGES OF THE DAY