Canada’s wildfire season remains manageable despite ongoing heat risks

Federal officials say Canada’s 2026 wildfire season has been relatively manageable so far, helped by heavy rainfall in parts of Western Canada. Even so, hotterthannormal temperatures and belowaverage rainfall are expected in some northern and eastern areas this summer, keeping wildfire risk elevated. According to the Canadian Interagency Forest Fire Centre, about 3,100 fires have been reported this season, slightly more than at the same point last year. However, the total area burned is far lower than in 2025, at roughly 12,000 square kilometres compared with 46,000 square kilometres. In British Columbia, fires near Boston Bar have destroyed several buildings and led to evacuation orders for hundreds of properties. Last year’s wildfire season was the secondworst on record in Canada, with more than 89,000 square kilometres burned.