INTERNATIONAL WILDFIRES (21ST CENTURY)

2023

ECOCIDE
noun
destruction of the natural environment,
especially when deliberate.

INTERNATIONAL WILDFIRES

(Largest Fires of the 21st Century)

Canadian Wildfires
(2023)

(Saskatchewan Wildfires)

(Original Image)

#4

LARGEST FIRE OF THE 21ST CENTURY

The Official Story

2023 CANADIAN WILDFIRES
(4th Largest Fire of the 21st Century)

Beginning in March 2023, and with increased intensity starting in June, Canada has been affected by an ongoing, record-setting series of wildfires. All 13 provinces and territories have been affected, with large fires in Alberta, British Columbia, the Northwest Territories, Nova Scotia, Ontario, and Quebec. The 2023 wildfire season has seen the most area burned in Canada’s recorded history, surpassing the 1989, 1995, and 2014 fire seasons, as well as in recorded North American history, surpassing the 2020 Western US wildfire season.

As of September 7, 6,187 fires had burned 165,646 square kilometres (63,956 sq mi; 40,932,000 acres), about five percent of the entire forest area of Canada and more than six times the long-term average of 2.66 million ha (6.6 million acres) for that time of the year. On September 8 there were 964 wildfires active, and 597 of those were deemed “out of control”. International aid has helped reduce the impact of the fires.

Smoke emitted from the wildfires has caused air quality alerts and evacuations in Canada and the United States. In late June it crossed the Atlantic, reaching Europe.

Saskatchewan

Like other regions, Saskatchewan had a dry spring, leading to increased risk for wildfires. By May 25, the province had seen 187 fires; the five-year average for that point in the season is 111. Firefighting crews struggled due to heavy smoke, which made it difficult both for crews to travel and to monitor the fires.

Some communities, although not directly in the path of any fires, lost power due to fires in the region, particularly from May 14 to 17.

Saskatchewan evacuations

On May 15, 535 residents of Buffalo Narrows evacuated. Other evacuated communities included the Buffalo River Dene Nation, the English River First Nation, the Lac La Ronge Indian Band, and the Canoe Lake First Nation.

By May 18, the Saskatchewan Public Safety Agency (SPSA) was supporting around 1,000 evacuees from effected regions of the province, who were temporarily housed in Lloydminster, North Battleford, and Regina. Support provided included food, clothing, housing, and other required services. The number of evacuees at the time was higher than 1,000, as the SPSA was not supporting individuals who evacuated of their own accord or who made separate housing plans.

Many residents in Deschambault Lake evacuated in mid-May. Evacuees from Île-à-la-Crosse and Buffalo Narrows received assistance from the University of Regina.

Source: Wikipedia

2023 Canadian Wildfires Statistics

Dates(s):	March 1, 2023 – present
Total Fires:	6,187 (as of September 7, 2023)
Burned Area:	16.565 million ha (40.93 million acres) (as of September 7, 2023)
Deaths:	6
Evacuated:	155,856 people (as of July 7, 2023)