Wildfires raging across six of Canada‘s 13 provinces and territories have caused havoc nationwide for the last six weeks – forcing mass evacuations and burning through more than 3.3 million hectares of land, larger than the state of Maryland.
With the smoke now billowing down to the East Coast of the United States, affecting 75 million Americans, the dire threat to Canada’s forests has come into sharp focus.
Some blame lax forest management, arguing that not enough controlled burns are being carried out thanks to campaigns by environmentalists.
In 2020, four scientists wrote a paper published in Progress in Disaster Science in which they said not enough money was being spent by Canada on managing forests.
‘Wildfire management agencies in Canada are at a tipping point,’ they wrote.
‘Presuppression and suppression costs are increasing but program budgets are not.’
In July 2021, the editorial board of Canada’s Globe and Mail newspaper warned that more needed to be done to hold controlled burns, and reduce the problem of out-of-control wildfires.
Smoke is seen billowing from the Donnie Creek Complex fire, south of Fort Nelson, British Columbia, on June 3
Smoke billows upwards from a planned ignition by firefighters tackling the Donnie Creek Complex wildfire south of Fort Nelson, British Columbia, Canada June 3, 2023
A swimmer in Cameron Lake in front of the Cameron Bluffs wildfire near Port Alberni, British Columbia, on Tuesday
But others say that climate change is directly responsible, due to the warming planet.
Canada had an extremely dry and snow-free winter, which has left all 10 provinces currently facing conditions termed abnormal dryness, moderate or severe drought, according to the Canadian government’s drought tracker.
In June 2021, Canada experienced its hottest day ever when the town of Lytton, in British Columbia, hit 121 degrees Fahrenheit, smashing the previous record of 113 degrees.
It tied California’s Death Valley as the hottest place in North America that day.
And this year, the wildfire season has begun incredibly early.
More than 1,400 percent of the normal amount of acres has burned for this time of the year – 8.7 million acres so far in 2023, an area the size of Vermont. In an average year, 6.2 million acres will burn due to wildfires.
Dry, hot weather also breeds more lightning.
Half of Canada’s wildfires are started by lightning; the other half by humans.
Lightning-sparked fires are more destructive than human-caused, however: they account for more than 85 percent of wildfire destruction.
Justin Trudeau, Canada’s prime minister, tweeted: ‘This wildfire season has already been devastating for communities across the country.
‘We’re taking action to keep people safe, to support those affected, and to make sure the provinces and territories have the assistance they need.’
Huge swathes of Alberta, Ontario and Quebec are currently ablaze, as well as British Columbia.
Smog hangs low over the George Washington bridge in New York on Wednesday
A water bomber is seen over Port Alberni, British Columbia, on Tuesday
A helicopter waterbomber drops water onto the Cameron Bluffs in British Columbia on Tuesday
All 10 provinces in Canada are currently affected by abnormally dry conditions, thanks to an exceptionally dry winter
On Wednesday, Joe Biden said that the United States was sending firefighters to help.
‘We’ve deployed more than 600 U.S. firefighters, support personnel, and equipment to support Canada as they respond to record wildfires – events that are intensifying because of the climate crisis,’ he tweeted.
Donald Trump repeatedly blamed wildfires on poor land management rather than seeing it as an effect of climate change.
Wildfires are not started by climate change, and naturally occur. But the changing climate, with drier conditions, provides more kindling and makes their impact more severe.
Some scientists believe rising global temperatures can affect the jet stream’s flow, making it weaker. That allows air to sit stagnant for longer, and heat up.
Canada’s natural resources agency says climate change could potentially double the amount of area burned by the end of this century.
For Canada, that means a possible problem for the timber industry, as well as destruction of valuable ecosystems.
The Canadian government on Monday said the outlook for the rest of 2023 was deeply troubling, with the fires expected to worsen.
‘Current June projections indicate the potential for continued higher-than-normal fire activity across most of the country throughout the 2023 wildland fire season due to ongoing drought and long-range forecasts for warm temperatures,’ they said.
‘For June, warm and dry conditions will increase wildfire risk in most of Canada from British Columbia and Yukon eastward into western Quebec and the Atlantic region.
‘During July, wildfire potential is expected to expand into Yukon, although the eastern edge will recede from western Quebec into central Ontario.’
Google tells employees in the East Coast to work from home as wildfire smoke smothers NYC and other Northeast cities
Tech giant Google has told employees in the East Coast to work from home as wildfires continue to smother New York City and other Northeast cities.
In a memo to workers, the company said due to the ongoing smoke that is shrouding the north east of the country they would be advising workers to stay home.
In a notice seen by CNBC, the company said: ‘We are advising Googlers to work from home if possible, and limit their exposure to outdoor air.
‘Terraces across our New York campus will remain closed today.’
NBC reported the company then issued advisory notices to workers in the Detroit area, Washington D.C., Virginia, Pittsburgh, and North Carolina.
In a memo to workers, the company said due to the smoke they would be advising workers to stay home
People walk across Brooklyn Bridge in smoky conditions caused by Canadian wildfires
In Canada, which is on track to experience its worst-ever wildfire season, Google notified employees in the Ontario cities of Toronto and Waterloo.
The memo on Wednesday advised employees to remain indoors, ‘avoid vigorous physical activity’ and run their air conditioners with clean filters, according to NBC.
The site leads assured those who are already working on site that their campuses’ HVAC and air filtration systems ‘maintain a high quality of air inside our offices even in these circumstances.’
A sheet of smoke from the wildfires first descended on New York on Tuesday before thickening throughout the afternoon and into Wednesday, leaving those in Manhattan unable to see the New Jersey skyline across the Hudson River.
As well as sending New Yorkers inside, air quality alerts were also introduced in states including Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Pennsylvania, Maryland, Illinois, Virginia and the Carolinas, according to the National Weather Service.
Health experts have warned breathing the fog can be as damaging as smoking 22 cigarettes a day.
Nanoparticles from the smog are so small they can penetrate the lungs and bloodstream, with side effects also including irritation to the eyes and throat as well as breathing problems.
The Manhattan skyline is shrouded in smoke as people ride the Staten Island ferry during smokey conditions caused by the Canadian wildfires
A family cross the road after leaving a wedding during smoky conditions on Wednesday
The Federal Aviation Administration paused some flights bound for LaGuardia Airport and slowed planes to Newark Liberty and Philadelphia due to limited visibility
At around 10pm Tuesday, New York was briefly recorded as having the worst air pollution in the world, overtaking the Indian capital of Delhi.
New York City Mayor Eric Adams urged vulnerable residents to be cautious amid the crisis, as he also blamed climate change for the yellow skies.
‘This may be the first time we’ve experienced something like this on this magnitude,’ he said. ‘Let me be clear, it’s not the last.’
The city’s health advisory warning has since been extended until 8pm Thursday, as officials warned residents to avoid strenuous activity outside and to stay indoors when possible.
