By Canadian Press

Federal official say forecast suggests high risk of wildfires in August

Jul 18, 2025 | 11:42 AM

OTTAWA — The 2025 wildfire season is already one of the worst on record for Canada and there is a high risk that more fires will break out in August, federal officials said on Friday.

More than 5.5 million hectares of land have burned so far this year, more than double the 10-year average for mid-July.

That is still well behind the record fire season in 2023, when more than 6,000 fires burned more than 15 million hectares of land.

There were 561 fires burning as of Friday, including 69 that were considered out of control.

Officials said the fire risk typically rises throughout August and they are predicting higher than normal temperatures for most of the country next month.

SOUND OFF

SOUND OFF: Preserving local theatres

16h ago

Sound Off

SOUND OFF: Approach to teaching - examining the meaning of being human

17h ago

The Creative Edge

PEARCE: The quiet power of handwriting

May 12, 2026

“This is consistent with climate change projections, which show that the next five years will be warmer than (we) are used to,” said Sébastien Chouinard, the director of operations at the Canadian meteorological centre.

August is also slated to bring below-normal rainfall levels for the Prairies, B.C. and the Maritimes.

Saskatchewan has already seen one of the worst fire seasons ever in terms of area burned, and a record number of people have been forced out of their homes in that province.

More than 530 firefighters from Australia, New Zealand, Costa Rica, Mexico and the United States are in Canada to help.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published July 18, 2025.

Sarah Ritchie, The Canadian Press

by Canadian Press

Click here to report an error or typo in this article

Federal official say forecast suggests high risk of wildfires in August

Our Community