How does Canada's 2024 wildfire season so far compare to historic 2023?
As we approach the end of July, with approximately 1,000 wildfires currently burning in Canada, how does the 2024 season fare when measured against 2023's historical year? We have a detailed look at the two
With hundreds of wildfires burning across Canada amid a period of extreme heat for multiple regions, how does the season in 2024 rank when looking at the historical and destructive 2023?
Similar to last summer in July, evacuation orders and alerts are in effect for many residents across Canada. Hot and dry conditions are exacerbating the current danger and battle efforts in provinces such as B.C. and Alberta, where much of the fires are burning.
Stay with The Weather Network’s wildfire hub for the latest on fires across B.C. and around Canada
With many similarities, is Canada on course to match or exceed last year's destructive wildfire season?
Looking back at 2023, while reviewing 2024 statistics
To date, Canada has had nearly 3,700 blazes burn approximately 2.2 million hectares of land so far this year, with about 1,000 active wildfires across the country as of July 24.
The good news is that it is considerably less than what was burned countrywide around this time last year. Approximately 11.9 million hectares of land had been scorched through July 2023.
The BC Wildfire Service reported 430 active wildfires across British Columbia as of Wednesday afternoon, with 106 of those fires starting within the past day. Officials are battling several wildfires of note across the province.
Around time last year, the province had seen roughly 1.46 million hectares of land burned, thanks to a surge in fire activity –– a trend B.C. is currently facing.
For 2024, the total is noticeably less, with wildfires burning a total of more than 790,000 hectares as of July 24.
For Alberta, 2024 has seen a much later wildfire season than last year, but there are more blazes currently that are considered out of control. As of Aug. 1, 2023, only two wildfires were out of control, but it currently has 57.
Just like B.C., its total hectares burned so far this year is far lower when compared to 2023.
By July 22, 2023, there was 1.75 million hectares burned while there has been roughly 540,000 hectares burned so far this year.
The current statistics paints the 2024 wildfire season as less severe than the historic 2023, but it's too early to say how this year will end up in terms of hectares burned.
WATCH: An in-depth analysis of the Jasper fire situation unfolding
Thumbnail photo is of a wildfire from 2023, courtesy of Jaclyn Whittal, a meteorologist at The Weather Network.
With files from Tyler Hamilton, a meteorologist at The Weather Network, and Nathan Howes, a digital reporter at The Weather Network.
