Federal government warns wildfire activity expected to increase through summer

Canada's 2026 wildfire season has started at a slower pace than recent years, but federal officials are warning that fire activity is expected to increase significantly as summer progresses.

In an update released Thursday, Public Safety Canada said warmer-than-normal temperatures forecast across much of the country are likely to elevate wildfire risk in the coming months, despite a relatively quiet start to the season.

As of June 10, there had been 1,747 wildfires reported nationwide this year, with 95 active fires burning across the country. Of those, 44 were classified as out of control.

The fires have burned approximately 166,400 hectares so far in 2026.

While this year's wildfire season has not matched the severity of 2023 or 2025 — the worst and second-worst wildfire seasons in Canadian history — officials said conditions are expected to become more favourable for wildfire growth as temperatures rise and vegetation dries out.

The federal government said some regions have received above-average precipitation in recent months, helping to reduce fire danger in the short term. However, forecasts indicate wildfire risk will increase through the summer across much of the country.

Fire danger is expected to remain relatively low across most of Alberta, Saskatchewan and southern Manitoba during June. However, other regions are facing elevated risks, including the eastern Northwest Territories and Atlantic Canada, where drought conditions continue to persist.

Looking ahead, wildfire modelling suggests fire danger will increase further in July and August as above-average temperatures develop across most regions of Canada.