A season unlike any other
In 2023, Canada recorded its most destructive wildfire season in recorded history. 17 million hectares burned. 7,131 separate wildfires were reported. 232,000 people were displaced from their homes. The previous record, set in 1989, stood at roughly 7.1 million hectares. 2023 more than doubled it.
These numbers come from Natural Resources Canada and the Canadian Interagency Forest Fire Centre (CIFFC). They're not projections or estimates. They're the final counts.
By the numbers
- 7,131 wildfires were reported across all provinces and territories (CIFFC).
- More than double the previous Canadian record set in 1989 (CIFFC).
- 232,000 people were forcibly evacuated, the largest wildfire-related displacement in Canadian history (Public Safety Canada).
- ~50% of Canadian wildfires are started by human activity (Canada Wildfire).
No region was spared
Wildfires in 2023 hit every province and territory. The geographic spread was unprecedented.
Northwest Territories
The capital city of Yellowknife was evacuated in August 2023 as flames closed within 25 km of downtown. Roughly 70% of the territory's population was displaced.
British Columbia
The McDougall Creek wildfire tore through West Kelowna, destroying homes and forcing 30,000+ evacuations overnight.
Alberta
In 2024, the Jasper townsite was partially destroyed by wildfire. In 2016, Fort McMurray saw the largest wildfire evacuation in Alberta history: 88,000 people.
Quebec
Unprecedented northern fires burned record area and sent smoke across the continent, disrupting air traffic and triggering air quality alerts from New York to Europe.
Nova Scotia
The Shelburne County fire burned 24,000 hectares in 2023, the largest wildfire in the province's history. A province that had never seen a fire of this scale.
What changed
Wildfire seasons are getting longer, hotter, and closer to populated areas. Several factors are driving the trend:
- Hotter, drier conditions: Higher spring and summer temperatures dry out forest fuel earlier in the year, extending the fire season by weeks.
- More lightning: Increased thunderstorm activity means more ignition events in remote areas where detection and response take longer.
- Human activity: Half of all Canadian wildfires are caused by people. Unattended campfires, discarded cigarettes, and equipment sparks are the most common culprits.
- Forest management legacy: Decades of fire suppression have allowed fuel to accumulate in many forests, making fires burn hotter and wider when they do ignite.
What it means for backcountry travellers
The gap between a recreational trip and a fire emergency is getting narrower. More people are heading into wildland areas, and those areas are burning more often, more intensely, and earlier in the season.
If you're travelling in the backcountry during fire season, three things matter:
- Know the current fire bans and restrictions for the province and park you're entering. Check provincial wildfire agency websites before you go.
- Carry a fire suppression tool. A FireSafe Wilderness Fire Blanket weighs about 1 lb, fits in a water bottle sleeve, and smothers campfire, cooking, and electrical fires without chemicals.
- Extinguish every fire completely. Use the drown-stir-drown-feel method. If it's too hot to touch, it's too hot to leave.
The new normal
The 2023 season wasn't an outlier. It was a preview. Climate models from Natural Resources Canada project that wildfire activity will continue to increase across most of Canada through the 2050s. The tools and habits that kept backcountry travellers safe a decade ago aren't enough anymore.
Carrying the right gear, following fire regulations, and extinguishing fires properly are no longer optional. They're the baseline. For a full breakdown of what to carry and why, see our complete guide to backcountry fire safety.