Canada, California Experience Record Wildfire Seasons, Widespread Impact

Canada is experiencing its second-worst wildfire season on record in 2025, with more than 72,000 square kilometers burned, an area roughly the size of New Brunswick, according to the Canadian Interagency Forest Fire Centre. The fires have scorched 7.3 million hectares nationwide, heavily impacting provinces like Saskatchewan, Manitoba, and Newfoundland and Labrador, where fires have rapidly grown due to hot temperatures and high winds. Firefighting resources are under significant strain, with around 1,400 international firefighters deployed and ongoing calls for a national fire administration to improve coordination and resource allocation. The intensity and duration of the wildfire season are exacerbated by climate change, which scientists link to longer, more severe fire seasons driven by fossil fuel emissions. In parallel, California is battling at least seven large wildfires, including the Gifford Fire, which is expected to become a "megafire" after burning over 99,000 acres, further illustrating a pattern of severe wildfire activity in North America. These wildfires have caused mass evacuations, destroyed thousands of structures, and claimed numerous lives, underscoring the urgent need for enhanced wildfire management and preparedness strategies.