The 2026 Canadian wildfire season began slowly but with high risks for fire throughout the country. Through June and July, the season accelerated, with more than 949 active wildfires across the country in mid-July, primarily in the Northwest Territories, Manitoba, British Columbia, Ontario, Quebec and Saskatchewan. Wildfires have been recorded in nine of ten provinces and all three territories.
Climate change has led to higher temperatures, drier conditions, and larger and longer-lasting fires in Canada. The country experienced a string of severe seasons in 2023 (its worst ever), 2024, and 2025 (its second-worst). The 2026 season was projected to be above historical averages, but not as severe as the preceding years, with British Columbia, Alberta, and the Northwest Territories facing the highest risk.
Fires in Northwestern Ontario created smoky conditions throughout North America, with Toronto having the worst air quality of any major city in the world on July 15. The smoke spread throughout Southern Ontario and into the United States and Mexico, triggering air quality alerts across the Northeastern U.S., and leading to a spike in emergency department hospitalizations in Ontario. Fires in southern British Columbia led to over 21,000 residents being evacuated, resulting in a province-wide state of emergency on August 8.
Four people have died during firefighting operations. The largest wildfire is the Thunder Bay 36 in northwestern Ontario, which has burned according to satellite data from the Wildland Fire Interagency Geospatial Service, making it one of the largest fires in Ontario's recorded history.
Background
Climate change has made extreme wildfires more common, with the country experiencing severe seasons in 2023 (its worst ever by area burned), 2024, and 2025 (its second-worst). Fires have become larger, lasted longer, and are more difficult to extinguish. Because of its northerly latitude, Canada is warming faster than other parts of the planet; along with more frequent dry conditions, this has increased fire risk. Previous years have seen increased risk in all eco-zones in the country, including the Pacific Northwest and Atlantic Canada. The 2026 season was projected to be above-average, but not as destructive as 2023 or 2025. Government officials did not expect the strong El Niño to impact the season. Preparations
In 2025, the federal government set aside $316 million over five years to support Canada's first national aerial firefighting fleet. For 2026, it leased ten aircraft from British Columbia companies: four airtankers, a birddog spotter plane, and five helicopters. Canadian and American wildfire fighters continued bilateral cooperation, though the U.S. Forest Service faced restructuring and a US$37 million budget cut.
Wildfires
+2026 Canadian wildfires by month (as of August 31) Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec TotalNumber of fires 0 382 1,097 1,190 1,655 924rowspan="2" colspan="4" 5,248Area burned (Ha) 2,088 76,043 598,456 3,107,098 708,598 4,492,283
+ Wildfires by province or territory (as of August 31)Provinceor territory Numberof Fires Area burned hectaresacresBritish Columbia 1,401 Yukon 79 Alberta 733 Northwest Territories 288 Saskatchewan 336 Manitoba 311 Ontario 762 Quebec 651 Newfoundland and Labrador 127 New Brunswick 351 Nova Scotia 114 Prince Edward Island 8 Parks Canada 87 Total 5,248 4,492,283
Alberta From January to February, three wildfires burned a total of in the Edson Forest Area. In late May, the Grande Prairie Forest Area wildfire danger level remained high; 29 wildfires had ignited in the GPFA since the start of the year, burning . On May 28, Alberta Wildfire issued a fire advisory for the Fort McMurray Forest Area amid warm temperatures and increasingly dry vegetation across northeastern Alberta. No active wildfires were burning in the area at the time. At 17:42 on May 28, a critical Alberta Emergency Alert was sent out telling residents in Thunder Lake to evacuate immediately after structural fires south of the Provincial Park boat launch. The following day at 11:03, the wildfire alert was cancelled and the area was safe for re-entry. The county manager said 13 properties were impacted and six buildings were destroyed.
On May 29, Alberta Wildfires said there were two out of control wildfires burning roughly south of Wembley, roughly apart from each other. One fire burned about , while the other burned . Also on May 29, the Government of Canada said the fire danger level for Wood Buffalo National Park was high, with three out of control fires reported. On May 30, an evacuation alert was issued for Conklin due to concerns of a wildfire named LWF-059 spreading to the area; the alert was lifted a day later. Seven active wildfires were reported in the Athabasca oil sands on May 31 as wildfire season returned to the oil sands region.
British Columbia
Officials warned that British Columbia would face the highest and most sustained risk of the season. Fire danger across the country was expected to build through July. Significant wildfire activity was expected in B.C.. In June, Neal McLoughlin, superintendent of B.C. Wildfire Service's predictive services unit, warned current drought conditions forebode a challenging season.
On June 16, tactical evacuations were carried out after a fast moving and out of control fire in West Kelowna, the Kalamoir Park Fire, burned and came close to homes. About 800 people living in 357 properties were forced to evacuate. A pergola was lost, but no major structures, and the evacuation order was lifted. The fire was suspected to be human-caused.
Wildfires increased in severity in August. The Pear Lake fire destroyed structures on about 120 properties near Clinton, and near Vernon at least 200 homes were destroyed, according to the Okanagan Indian Band. On the west side of Okanagan Lake, wildfires forced the evacuations of over 5,000 people. Fires destroyed electrical infrastructure and caused power outages for thousands, while extreme wind and lightning at the start of the month created aggressive wildfires elsewhere in the province's south.
Southwest of the lake, the Bald Range fire formed on August 7 around 5:30pm and grew so rapidly that premier David Eby described it as a "bomb going off". Flames reached over and created pyrocumulus clouds and lightning. Approaching Summerland the next day, the fire grew from 50 to , and all 12,000 residents were ordered to immediately evacuate. At least 55 people were rescued by helicopter. and 10,000 took shelter in nearby Penticton. With over 21,000 people evacuated, British Columbia declared a province-wide state of emergency. Penticton RCMP confirmed that an 80-year-old woman died attempting to escape the Bald Range fire, and believe that the wildfire was the cause of death.
Manitoba Seven fires burned between The Pas and Cranberry Portage, an area that wildfires scorched the previous year. One fire located from Easterville burned approximately .
Newfoundland and Labrador The 2026 wildfire season in Newfoundland and Labrador began with relatively encouraging conditions. On June 25, 2026, officials reported 61 wildfires in the province, a 55 percent decrease from the 136 fires recorded by the same date in 2025. At that time, only one active wildfire was burning near Labrador City, and wetter conditions than the previous year were credited for the reduction in fire activity.
Lightning strikes ignited several wildfires across Labrador on June 26. One near Oreway, approximately from Labrador City, grew to 470 hectares and was classified as out of control. Additional fires were reported near Miron River and Churchill Falls, raising concerns about the region's dry conditions and increasing wildfire risk. By June 29, a fire near Walsh River, about eight kilometres west of Labrador City, prompted evacuation orders for Walsh River, Tamarack Golf Course, Duley Lake, and Throne Lake. Labrador City declared a state of emergency as water bombers, helicopters, and ground crews were deployed. At that time, 17 wildfires were burning in the province, with 16 in Labrador.
On June 30, five wildfires were burning within a 30-kilometre radius of Labrador City and Wabush, forcing approximately 120 residents from their homes and cabins. The Walsh River fire remained out of control, while smoke reduced visibility on highways and contributed to air-quality concerns. Despite rainfall providing some relief, the Walsh River fire grew to 472 hectares, and the province reported 28 active wildfires, with 25 in Labrador. The elevated fire danger led to the postponement of Canada Day fireworks in St. John's and the cancellation of celebrations in Labrador City and Happy Valley-Goose Bay.
Suppression efforts expanded as additional firefighters from Nova Scotia arrived to assist provincial crews on July 4. Firefighters focused on strengthening containment lines and soaking fire perimeters in anticipation of hot, dry weather. Five wildfires remained active around Labrador West, with several out of control. By July 6, officials reported 25 active wildfires across Labrador. Forestry Minister Pleaman Forsey stated that firefighting resources were being prioritized toward wildfires threatening communities, particularly the Walsh River and De Mille Lake fires. The state of emergency in Labrador City remained in effect, and evacuation orders continued for several affected areas. Smoke from wildfires in both Labrador and Quebec also created significant air-quality concerns across the region. In response to elevated fire danger and pressure on firefighting resources, the provincial government implemented a province-wide fire ban, prohibiting outdoor burning throughout Newfoundland and Labrador.
Conditions improved on July 9, 2026, when the Walsh River fire was downgraded to "held" status. After ten days of evacuation, residents and cabin owners in the Walsh River area were permitted to return home, although evacuation alerts remained in effect for nearby locations. With the fire under control, Labrador City lifted evacuation alerts for Walsh River, Duley Lake, Throne Lake, and the Tamarack Golf Course area on July 13. Provincial forestry maps showed that several major fires near Labrador West were either extinguished, controlled, or held, significantly reducing the threat to nearby communities. Steady rainfall dramatically lowered the forest fire index in Labrador West. Most remaining fires were in remote areas and no longer posed immediate threats to communities or critical infrastructure. The provincial government also announced additional wildfire-response investments, including seasonal water bomber deployment in Wabush, new firefighting equipment, and additional wildland firefighter positions for Labrador.
The season entered a recovery phase on July 17 when the provincial government announced that the province-wide fire ban would end at midnight. Although 19 active wildfires remained in Labrador, conditions had improved sufficiently for officials to return to normal restrictions. By August 10, 2026, there were only four active fires in parts of central and northern Labrador. It was noted that the year had seen fewer fires versus 2025, at 126 to date compared to 243 last year, but a larger area burned in total hectares.
Northwest Territories
The Northwest Territories and British Columbia were forecasted to have the highest wildfire risk. The territory's soil had not fully recovered from previous droughts, allowing fires to burn deeper into the ground.