Canada’s Record Wildfires: “Nature” Report

I just read a news article about Canada’s wildfires that really is shocking.  Last year’s wildfires were so massive they ended up emitting more carbon than all but three major countries—China, the US, and India, according to a study published in Nature. The fires ravaged 15 million hectares (about 37 million acres), roughly the size of Florida!  

Jasper, Alberta. Source: Amber Bracken, The Canadian Press

If you want to read the details yourself, you can find the source article here.

So, what is causing all these wildfires? Sadly, it’s due to unprecedented high temperatures and drought. This is a big deal because Canada’s boreal forests are crucial for capturing carbon and mitigating global warming, and the scale of these fires could significantly disrupt climate change predictions.

Are Canadian wildfires really increasing that much?

I decided to look up the statistics myself because you can’t always rely on the internet for your information. 😊

The Government of Canada has an extensive amount of data about wildfires which can be found here.

Source: Government of Canada, Natural Wildland Fire Situation Report, Current as of: August 28, 2024 (*PC is Parks Canada)  https://cwfis.cfs.nrcan.gc.ca/report/graphs

The government tracks the fires, updates daily, and identifies hot spots so we can be aware of any dangers where we live.  The chart above really show how bad things are getting: the Western provinces and Northern territories experienced a significant increase in the area impacted by wildfires this year.

Impact on Jasper, Alberta

I have never visited Jasper, Alberta, but I have heard how beautiful it is. It’s known for its stunning mountain peaks, crystal-clear lakes, and charming local businesses in the town.  

Sunwapta falls, Jaspar. Photo by Sneha Chandrashekar on Unsplash

Wildfires caused immense damage this summer, destroying about 33% of the town’s buildings and burning through 89,000 acres (36,000 hectares). Of the 1,113 structures in Jasper, 358 were lost. Thousands of residents had to evacuate to escape the worst of the blaze. Thankfully no one was hurt due to the town preparing for such an event.

Jasper, Alberta. Source: Amber Bracken, The Canadian Press

Economic and Ecological Toll

Officials announced that Jasper will not welcome tourists or visitors, for the foreseeable future because of the excessive damage. The municipality stated there are no hotels, no restaurants, and no businesses open. Fences now surround the areas impacted by the fires.  Businesses are assessing the damage and determining how they can rebuild and when they can reopen to serve tourists. News reports say that Jasper resembles a ghost town.

Jasper National Park, located just north of the more famous Banff National Park, is part of the largest national park in the Canadian Rockies and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It's home to diverse wildlife like elk, grizzly bears, moose, and bison. The town of Jasper, with around 5,000 residents, welcomes about 2.5 million visitors each year. The fires have led to a significant economic loss, with tourism dropping sharply during peak season. The goal is to restore the resort town and the neighbouring area, but it’s expected to be a long process.

What Can we Do?

In July 2024, Alberta faced 51 wildfires burning out of control, forcing approximately 17,000 people to evacuate. The scale of the fires highlights the increasing frequency and intensity of such events, which are expected to become more common due to rising temperatures.

It all comes back to climate change. Anything we can do to reduce our global emissions to try to prevent rising temperatures is critical.  Lowering our use of fossil fuels is always pushed by mainstream media as the primary directive. Let’s face it, in Canada we still need to heat our homes and drive cars, especially in rural areas where public transit and cycling aren’t viable options.  I think this is why people tune out about climate change news because we all feel helpless.

The one thing every one of us can do is to reduce emissions caused by factory farming (meat and dairy). These emissions are equally as impactful to climate change, and it isn’t difficult to do. Every time we substitute plant-based alternatives for animal foods, we are taking a step towards reducing future wildfires.

For anyone wishing to help those impacted by wildfires in Alberta, the Red Cross is accepting donations online here: Red Cross or by calling 1-800-418-1111.

Enjoyed this post? Never miss out on future posts by following me!