Two years after a historically destructive wildfire season, Canada is once again grappling with widespread blazes that have already burned more land than the average for this time of year.
As of Tuesday, more than 220 wildfires were active across the country, with half deemed out of control. So far, flames have scorched over 3.3 million hectares (12,700 square miles)—an area roughly the size of Belgium.
Saskatchewan and Manitoba declared states of emergency in late May as central provinces faced an early and aggressive start to fire season. Now, dozens of new blazes are being detected daily, many sparked by human activity or lightning.
Mega wildfires are currently burning in Alberta, British Columbia, and northern Ontario. Although the pace of destruction hasn't yet surpassed the record-breaking 2023 season, experts are sounding the alarm.
"It's quite spectacular what we're seeing right now," said Marc-Andre Parisien, a researcher with the Canadian Forest Service.
In response, Canada has placed its firefighting forces on maximum alert. Military units are ready to conduct evacuations, and international support from Australia and the United States is on standby.
"There are some similarities to the 2023 fire season, particularly because we're again coping with a very large area experiencing water deficits and drought," Parisien said.
Experts say a lack of snow insulation this past winter allowed the ground to warm and vegetation to dry much earlier than usual.
"Without the insulating effect of snow, the ground warmed up, vegetation dried more quickly, and conditions conducive to forest fires were established several weeks in advance," said Hossein Bonakdari, a University of Ottawa professor.
May temperatures were above average across much of Canada, which is warming at more than twice the global rate, according to scientists. They link the trend to human-induced climate change, which has led to shorter winters, reduced snow cover, and longer fire seasons.
With current conditions, researchers warn fires may burn for weeks or months. Some may smolder underground and reignite later in the season.
"What is quite worrisome for the country is that we're experiencing a third consecutive year of intense fires with social consequences for thousands of evacuees but also significant ecological impacts," said Yan Boulanger, a researcher with Canada’s Ministry of Natural Resources.
Though wildfires are a natural part of the ecosystem, frequent and large-scale events are hindering forest regeneration. In some regions, forests are giving way to prairie landscapes, Boulanger noted.
Another growing concern is the size of this year's fires. In Saskatchewan, the Shoe Fire has already burned over 500,000 hectares (1.2 million acres).
From that perspective, Boulanger said, "it's even more serious than 2023."