In Canada, at least 5.6 million hectares have been devastated by large wildfires since the beginning of the year. “The worst could be ahead of us,” warn the authorities.

In Canada, the elements are unleashed. Hundreds of forest fires are currently underway: At least 5,668,509 hectares have burned across the country since the beginning of the year Canadian Inter-Agency Wildfire Center. A record that could deteriorate in the coming weeks.

“The worst may not be behind us yet, but it may still be ahead of us,” Environment Minister Steven Guilbeault warned on Thursday.

Because the summer, which promises to be very dry and very hot, has not yet begun. However, wildfires tend to be at their worst from early July.

More than 400 active lights

According to the Canadian Interagency Forest Fire Center polled Sunday, June 18, 423 wildfires are active across all regions of the country. Almost half of them (204) are considered out of control.

In Canada, at least 5.6 million hectares (56,685 km²) have been devastated since the beginning of the year. That’s several hundred thousand hectares in just a few days.

An impressive area that alone is the equivalent of several French regions and more than 10% of the metropolitan area (543,940 km²).

An already historic year

The year 2023 is already historic. According to CIFFC data, since 1983 only 1989 (5.9 million hectares) and 1995 (7.1) had a higher balance.

In the east of the country, for example, the Donnie Creek fire north of Fort St. John is the largest wildfire in British Columbia’s history our colleagues from Radio-Canada. Since the fire broke out on May 12, around 5344 square kilometers (530,440 hectares) have been devastated and classified as “out of control”.

In Quebec, the fire situation is likely to “weaken” further in the coming days due to the lack of rain, warned SOPFEU, the province’s fire department, on Sunday.

According to government data updated weekly, 2023 looks set to be one of the worst in Canadian history. Summer has not yet started and this year’s fires are already the deadliest in 10 years. underlined our colleagues from western france.

Many countries, including France, Spain, Australia and the United States, have already dispatched firefighters to help Canadian authorities fight the blaze.