How many fires are burning, how did they start and other answers to questions about wildfires in Canada
Milwaukee experienced one of the worst air quality indexes in the world in late June because of smoke from Canadian wildfires. The Wisconsin DNR had issued an air quality advisory amid hazy skies for several days.
Wildfires are common during this time of year when warmer, dry weather creates the perfect environment for blazes, especially in Canada's forests. However, devastation from this season's fires has put the country on track for the worst wildfire season in recent years.
The fires and their smoke paths have impacted several cities across North America since the beginning of the summer, most notably in New York City and the Northeast. Here's what to know about the wildfires.
How many fires are burning in Canada?
Canada's eastern provinces like Quebec, Ontario and Nova Scotia have been hit particularly hard this year by large and at times uncontrollable blazes.
As of July 18, there are 884 active fires across the country, with 562 out of control and 201 under control, according to the Canadian Interagency Forest Fire Centre. Officials have reported the highest number of active fires in Quebec. British Columbia, along Canada's west coast, had the second-highest number of active blazes followed by Alberta and Ontario.
How many acres have burned in Canada?
The fires have scorched at least 11 million hectares — or around 27 million acres — of land across Canada since the start of this year, according to the fire agency. The acreage has surpassed the previous annual record from 1989, reported by the National Forest Database.
Canada is at national preparedness level 5, meaning they have dedicated a full commitment to using national resources as well as international help to battle the fires.
How did the wildfires in Canada start?
Fires in Canada are thought to have started in late April and grew more severe in early May prompting a government response on May 6. Warm and dry conditions, plus severe drought in densely forested areas due to global warming have increased the chances of natural fires in recent years. According to the Canada Drought Monitor, all 10 Canadian provinces are experiencing abnormal dryness, moderate or severe drought.
Dry, hot weather also makes lightning more likely. In a normal season, half of Canada's wildfires are started by lightning, but those fires account for more than 85% of wildfire destruction. The other half are human-caused in various ways from discarded cigarette butts to sparks from passing trains.
These fires have traditionally occurred on the country's west coast, but this spring has seen historic fire numbers on Canada's east coast.
Where are the wildfires in Canada?
The wildfires are concentrated in British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan and the Northwestern Territories in western Canada; as well as in Ontario, Quebec and Nova Scotia in eastern Canada, according to the Canadian Interagency Forest Fire Centre.
The map below shows the location of the wildfires and the smoke coverage.
Beck Andrew Salgado of the Journal Sentinel staff contributed to this report.
This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Canadian wildfires: How many are burning, how did they start
