More than 15 million hectares (37 million acres, or 57,900 mi2) have burned in Canada’s worst wildfire season on record, which has affected every region of the country. And as devastating as the fires have been so far, large swaths of the country - namely western Ontario, Manitoba, Saskatchewan, and parts of Alberta, Northwest Territories and even Nunavut - are forecasted to remain at above-average fire weather severity even after summer ends.
Given that the 2023 wildfire season is still underway, attempts to clarify causes and calculate costs are ongoing. In terms of the ‘why’, it may be difficult to attribute a single fire season to climate change, but a warmer atmosphere does contribute to the drying of soils, which increases fire risk. And a study from World Weather Attribution found that climate change more than doubled the likelihood of “extreme fire weather conditions” in Eastern Canada, which experienced an uncharacteristically active fire season this year.
In terms of costs, beyond the dollar amount, the damage from the past several weeks is exacerbating the post-disaster burden that was already being felt in Canada, namely due to a shortage of labor needed to rebuild homes and infrastructure. The result is a risk of protracted displacement in one of the richest countries on the planet.
The 2023 Season So Far
As of 4 September, over 6,000 fires have been reported in Canada, which have killed at least four firefighters since July. The fires prompted evacuation orders for some 200,000 people.
As of the time of writing, wildfire smoke was producing air quality ratings in Calgary and Winnipeg - with over 2 million people - of 16.7 and 15.3 times the WHO guidelines, respectively. In Kelowna, British Columbia (BC), a popular summer holiday destination, smoke from “hundreds of nearby wildfires” obscured the sun for days, which as we heard from one local resident, made evacuating a dangerous proposition.
The entire capital city of Northwest Territories - Yellowknife - and many other communities were ordered to evacuate back in mid-August, an effort that was made so difficult by thick smoke and ongoing fires that the military was tasked to assist with air evacuations.
One Resident’s Evacuation Experience
One of those evacuees is Cara Bryant, a resident of Yellowknife, the capital city of Canada’s Northwest Territories province. Yellowknife is the largest community and only city in the province, with a population of approximately 20,000, situated just 250 miles south of the Arctic Circle. Cara has lived in Yellowknife these past 16 years with her husband, two children and some extended family. She spoke to us about her family’s experience with both the fires and subsequent evacuation.
““It was about 21 hours of traveling.””
Cara says initially, the fires were south of their location, but the smell of smoke was so heavy in early August and the week leading up to their evacuation that her children opted to stay indoors. “One morning I went outside and found my car covered in ash.
Before the evacuation order was issued, I noticed people had already left town. Anyone with an RV had gone south. Most of the town left Wednesday, August 16, the day the evacuation was ordered. There was definitely a sense of panic and fear. We were given until mid-day Friday to leave, so my family, dog and I left on a commercial flight Friday morning.”
When the time came for Cara and her family to evacuate, the journey was not easy. “We traveled from Yellowknife to Edmonton, where we had to go through security, since there was none in Yellowknife. Then Edmonton to Toronto and finally Toronto to Ottawa. It was about 21 hours of traveling.
We didn't want to drive if we could manage to get a flight. There were a lot of horror stories from friends on social media. Some said it took them 9 hours to drive to Fort Providence, which would usually only take 3 or 4 hours. Another friend told me the smoke was so thick they couldn't see the lines on the road.”
With climate events growing in intensity and frequency around the globe, and the need for greater information-sharing, coordination and collaboration across all sectors vital, we asked Cara how organized the evacuation process was in her experience?
“I’ve heard lots of differing opinions on this. For me, it was okay. I tried for days to get us flights, but they were all booked. We had made a plan to drive, but once the evacuation order came in I was able to get flights for my family and dog at very reasonable prices. That's only because a lot of the commercial airlines added flights due to the situation. I think it would have been a very different experience had we driven out. Much more chaotic.”
Just within the last few days, evacuation orders were issued for parts of BC’s Interior, including a First Nation. We asked Cara if she knew of Indigenous communities particularly affected? “I don't know for sure,” she says, “but the fires have burnt down so much of the forest I imagine it could affect the ability to hunt in certain areas typical for hunting.”
A Growing Post-Disaster Burden?
As reporting from Canadian outlet Global News recently revealed, the unprecedented fire season is exacerbating an existing construction sector labor shortage and housing crisis in Canada. Those who have lost their homes or businesses this year may find themselves at the end of a long line when it comes time to rebuild, given that work is still ongoing in the aftermath of fires and other disasters from previous years. For example, the town of Lytton, BC, which was almost entirely destroyed by fire in June 2021, has yet to be rebuilt.
Making matters worse is the remoteness of some of this year’s fires, which may increase construction costs and make it more challenging to secure adequate labor. And this is on top of an ongoing housing crisis in many areas of Canada, especially cities like Vancouver and Toronto, which are under significant pressure to increase housing supply.
Cara says those deemed “essential workers” are among the first who are allowed to return to Yellowknife on September 4 and 5, suggesting that essential workers will likely be involved in rehabilitating badly affected places. The general public are allowed to begin returning on September 6.
For Cara and her family, the cost of commercial flights played into when they could afford to return. “School starts (on) the 14th, but my kids and I are headed back on the 15th. We are flying commercial back home and that date was the best price for tickets we could get, in that time frame”, she says.
As those displaced by fires and other disasters search for temporary housing while they rebuild or permanently relocate, these factors and the stiff competition people may face in the housing market could create long-term, protracted displacement despite Canada’s status as a wealthy, developed country.
As climate change continues to drive unpredictable and severe events, even if just in part, there is an urgent need for policymakers in Canada to take meaningful action. Of course, Canada must reduce its reliance on fossil fuels, which allow Canada to be one of the world’s top oil producers and still provide a fifth of its electricity generation. But it is too late for mitigation alone, and the impacts of climate events must also be addressed - such as ensuring people displaced by wildfires and other disasters are able to return home or relocate safely and without unreasonable delay.
This year’s devastating wildfire season in Canada is a sobering reminder that while some areas are undoubtedly more vulnerable to climate change and its exacerbation of severe climate events, no place is truly safe. Indeed, the planet just endured its hottest three-month period on record, prompting UN Secretary-General António Guterres to declare that “climate breakdown has begun.” Only a coordinated, global response based in solidarity, responsibility, and protection of people will suffice.
As for Cara and the Bryant family, “I'm just grateful we still have a home to go back to”, Cara says, “not everyone in the territory has been so lucky, and it's devastating to see the damage these fires have caused.”