This year is shaping up to be one of the worst on record for forest fires in Canada. From British Columbia to Nova Scotia, many provinces are dealing with higher-than-normal numbers of fires.
Fire officials say roughly 3.3 million hectares of forest have burned so far in 2023. That’s more than 10 times the 10-year average.
“This is an unprecedented number for this early in the year,” said Michael Norton, director general of the Northern Forestry Centre of Natural Resources Canada.
Speaking at a media briefing on June 5, Norton told reporters that there have been evacuations in nine provinces and territories since early May involving roughly 100,000 people, although many of them have since returned home. He said there are over 950 firefighters from other countries helping with the efforts, and more on the way….