Experts warning springtime wildfires showing early signals of summer conditions
Experts say Canada should be on high alert heading into wildfire season this summer, with conditions mirroring those seen in 2023.
- Sign up now for our daily CTV News Ottawa newsletters
- The information you need to know, sent directly to you: Download the CTV News App
An extensive number of wildfires have already been reported in the Ottawa Valley this spring following dry and warmer than average conditions.
"We do see significant and extensive drought throughout Canada, from Ontario all the way through to the west," said Dr. Chris Stockdale, a forest research extension specialist with Natural Resources Canada.
"There are signals that we are seeing that are concerning."
Last summer saw Ottawa and much of the country blanketed in smoke and suffer through poor air quality as wildfires ravaged parts of Ontario and Quebec.
The Canadian Interagency Forest Fire Centre National Fire Summary reported a total of 6,623 fires nationally in 2023.
"The number of fires last year wasn't extreme, it's how big they got," says Stockdale.
"That was the extreme event."
Across Renfrew County, at least 30 wildfires have been reported in the last month.
"We've had to respond to about half a dozen already, and it's very early. Usually this time of year, we're watching the snow partially disappear," said Tim Sutcliffe, the fire chief for Laurentian Valley.
Experts say when conditions are dry, there is no preventing lightning strikes from igniting wildfires. But a majority of those fires started are from humans, from instances such as unwatched campfires or discarded cigarettes.
"In every one of the cases that we had, it was created by people," Sutcliffe told CTV News. "And I know even last summer with a big fire season, most of those fires were caused by people."
With conditions trending in a similar direction to 2023, experts are on high alert for more wildfires this year.
"I anticipate it's going to be another dry summer and it's going to be very, very busy," said Sutcliffe.
"Everybody's going to have to be very, very careful."
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Norway, Ireland and Spain say they are recognizing a Palestinian state in a historic move
Norway, Ireland and Spain said on Wednesday they are recognizing a Palestinian state, in a historic but largely symbolic move that deepens Israel’s isolation more than seven months into its grinding war against Hamas in Gaza.
Thunderstorms with tornado risk in some areas in Ontario, snow elsewhere in Canada
Canadians can expect a mixed bag of weather, with forecasts warning of thunderstorms, heavy rain and snow in some areas across western Canada.
NEW How to remove ticks and what to know about these bloodsuckers
Ticks are parasitic bloodsuckers, capable of spreading deadly disease, and they’re becoming increasingly common. Here’s what you need to know about them.
Montreal photographer captures dramatic Canada goose vs. fox fight on video
A Montreal photographer captured the moment a Canada goose defended itself from a fox at the Botanical Garden.
Canadians feel grocery inflation getting worse, two in five boycotting Loblaw: poll
Almost two-thirds of Canadians feel that inflation at the grocery store is getting worse, a new poll suggests, even as food inflation has been steadily cooling.
opinion Joe Biden uses bully pulpit to bully Donald Trump on debates
Donald Trump had spent weeks needling U.S. President Joe Biden for his refusal to commit to a debate. But Washington political columnist Eric Ham describes how in one fell swoop, Biden ingeniously stole the issue from the Trump campaign and made it his own.
Barbie will make dolls to honour Venus Williams, Christine Sinclair and other athletes
Barbie dolls will honour Canadian soccer star Christine Sinclair and tennis champion Venus Williams, plus seven other athletes as part of a project announced by Mattel on Wednesday.
Ontario mother loses $2,500 to text scammer pretending to be daughter
An Ontario mother lost $2,500 to a scammer pretending to be her daughter asking for help in late April.
From AI running wild to collapsing ecosystems, government report outlines future disruptions
From artificial intelligence running wild to collapsing ecosystems, a new Canadian government report outlines 35 disruptions that could rattle the country in the near future.