2026 Canadian wildfires

Alberta

Since January 1, three wildfires burned a total of 0.13 ha (0.32 acres) in the Edson Forest Area.^[16]

On May 26, the Grand Prairie Forest Area wildfire danger level remained high. Alberta Wildfire said current dry conditions make it very easy to spark and spread quickly, so residents are asked to be cautious. 29 wildfires ignited in the GPFA since the start of the year, burning 7 ha (17 acres).^[17]

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.^[18]

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.^[19] The following day at 11:03, the wildfire alert was cancelled and the area was safe for re-entry.^[20] The county manager said 13 properties were impacted and six buildings were destroyed.^[21]

On May 29, Alberta Wildfires said there was two out of control wildfires burning roughly 20 kilometres (12 mi) south of Wembley, roughly 5 kilometres (3.1 mi) apart from each other. One fire burned about 1.5 ha (3.7 acres), while the other burned 0.01 ha (0.025 acres).^[22]

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.^[23]

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 after as the fire isn't expected to go outside of its current boundaries.^[24]

Seven active wildfires were reported in the Athabasca oil sands on May 31 as wildfire season returned to the oil sands region.^[25]

Nova Scotia

On May 16, the season was announced to have started.^[26]

On May 21, a 40-year-old firefighter died after a sudden medical emergency while battling the Moschelle Fire near Moschelle in Annapolis County. The fire continued to burn approximately 1.19 ha (2.9 acres) before being brought under control during the evening on the same day.^[13]

On May 26, the Long Lake Fire was extinguished after burning 8,500 ha (21,000 acres) across Annapolis Valley since last year, destroying 20 homes and forcing hundreds of evacuations.^[27]

Saskatchewan

Wildfire season started in Saskatchewan after a long season of big snowfalls and flooding killed grass, making it really flammable.^[28]

On May 25, a fire named the Lobstick Fire began, starting the Prince Albert wildfire season.^[29] On May 29, the rapidly growing fire crossed the North Saskatchewan River, approaching homes. The Saskatchewan Public Safety Agency (SPSA) issued a fire ban that covers a large portion of the province.^[30] Currently, six homes are threatened, with some families being evacuated and others on standby.^[31] Video showed ash raining down from flammagenitus clouds in Prince Albert ahead of evacuation orders in the region.^[32] Some ranchers moved their cattle.^[33] The fire is estimated to have burned 19,000 ha (47,000 acres) and could cost $20–25 million dollars in timber losses.^[34][35] On May 30, an evacuation alert was issued for Shellbrook as the fire was fast-moving.^[36] By May 31, the fire was reportedly calmer but still raging.^[37] The SPSA identified lightning as the cause of the fire.^[38]

Ontario

Wildfire activity in Northwestern Ontario remained significantly lower than last year, despite 62 fires being reported in the province so far, with 280.6 ha (693 acres) burned.^[39]

On May 15, a 168 ha (420 acres) out of control fire named Dryden 11 ignited near Sandbar Lake Provincial Park, prompting the closure of Ontario Highway 599 north of Ignace and causing evacuations.^[39][40] Another fire named Fort Frances 4 caused evacuations in Mine Centre before being extinguished after burning 12.6 ha (31 acres). That fire and two other fires destroyed property and killed two pets in Rainy River District.^[39][41]

On May 27, a 3 ha (7.4 acres) fire ignited in Haliburton County. As of May 29, the fire remained out of control.^[42]

On May 31, a fire called Timmins 9 was reported. The fire grew to around 3,300 ha (8,200 acres) and caused more than 160 residents of Mattagami First Nation to evacuate before being brought under control on June 15.^[2]

A video of CN rail employees inside a train being surrounded by flames in Armstrong in Northwestern Ontario went viral on July 15. CN suspended rail operations near the community due to fires in the area. Residents of the community, as well as Lac La Croix First Nation, Collins First Nation (Namaygoosisagagun), Whitesand First Nation and Lac des Mille Lacs First Nation were under an evacuation order. According to the area's MPP, Collins First Nation had been destroyed^[43] by an unexpected fast-moving wildfire that severely damaged homes and community buildings.^[44] By July 15, there were over 180 active wildfires across Ontario, with 136 burning in the Northwest Region alone.^[1]

On July 15, wildfire smoke began drifting over southwestern Ontario, rendering Toronto's air quality the worst in the world and covering the area with a smoky orange haze. The city was put under an orange alert.^[45] Orange alerts are issued when severe weather is likely to cause damage, disruption or health impacts. Impacts are likely to be major, widespread and/or may last for a few days. Orange alerts are uncommon.^[46] Several youths were treated at a camp in Muskoka Lakes for air quality-related issues.^[47]

Brian Proctor, a meteorologist with Environment Canada, said much of the province is covered in smoke, and he expects more areas could be impacted.^[45] AccuWeather compared the smoke in Toronto to the smoke in New York City during the 2023 Canadian wildfire season.^[48]

Northwest Territories

The Northwest Territories is the second highest-risk area.^[8]

On May 18, the government said it was fighting three fires, including two that were human-caused. One of the fires was an out of control holdover fire.^[49]

On May 22, lightning caused four wildfires in Wood Buffalo National Park, with two being out of control.^[50] The largest fire burned 35,288 ha (87,200 acres) and is still out of control.^[51]

On June 14, lightning caused two wildfires southwest of Norman Wells. Both fires were out of control, with one burning 90 ha (220 acres) and the other burning 300 ha (740 acres).^[52]

On June 24, a Buffalo Airways Rockwell Aero Commander 690 with a pilot and two firefighters on board crashed during firefighting operations 50 kilometres (31 mi) from Fort Simpson. All three occupants were confirmed dead on scene.^[14]

Manitoba

Seven fires burned between The Pas and Cranberry Portage, an area that wildfires scorched last year.^[53] One fire located 1 kilometre (0.62 mi) from Easterville burned approximately 400 ha (990 acres).^[54]

British Columbia

Officials are warning that British Columbia will face the highest and most sustained risk of the season as fire danger across the country is expected to build through July. Significant wildfire activity is expected in B.C. this season.^[55] Neal McLoughlin, superintendent of B.C. Wildfire Service's predictive services unit, said current drought conditions forebode a challenging season.^[56]

On June 16, tactical evacuations were carried out after a fast moving and out of control fire in West Kelowna named Kalamoir Park Fire burned 8 hectares (20 acres) and came close to homes.^[57] About 800 people living in 357 properties were forced to evacuate.^[3] A pergola was lost, but no major structures, and the evacuation order was lifted. The fire is suspected to be human-caused.^[58]

United States

Smoke from wildfires along with hot temperatures affected a large portion of the Northeastern United States in July. The New York City Emergency Management (NYCEM) warned that any ground-level impacts are still uncertain, but that the air quality could trigger health issues, especially those suffering from lung diseases such as asthma.^[59] Smoke from the wildfires was seen in the Upper Midwest, and caused poor air quality as far east as Boston on July 15.^[60][61] Smoke caused Michigan air quality to go into the hazardous range.^[62] AQI values in and around Saginaw reached 1,135, well above the criteria to meet hazardous level.^[63]

Environment Canada reported an Air Quality Health Index reading of 10+, classified as "very high risk," for Toronto, while forecasts suggested hazardous conditions could persist through the night of July 16. The National Weather Service (NWS) said smoke could linger into the ⁠end of the week.^[64]

Mexico

Light density wildfire smoke was reported across numerous Mexican states, including Zacatecas, Jalisco, Colima, Aguascalientes, Hidalgo, Guerrero, Oaxaca, Morelos, Tlaxcala, Querétaro, Nayarit, Guanajuato, State of Mexico, San Luis Potosí, Michoacán and Sinaloa.^[10]