It’s wildfire season. Here is a map of Canada’s fires | story | Kids News

It’s wildfire season. Here is a map of Canada’s fires

Plus, what to know about wildfires in Canada

Wildfire season is upon us, and officials say so far, this year’s fires are more manageable than fires were at this time in 2025.

There have been about 3,100 fires this year, compared with roughly 2,900 at this time last year, according to the Canadian Interagency Forest Fire Centre.

But the total area burned is much lower: about 12,000 square kilometres this year, compared to about 46,000 square kilometres last year.

This is because of more rain than usual in the southern Prairies and eastern Quebec this year, officials said.

However, they warned of a forecasted hotter and drier than normal summer in much of the country.

Whether a fire is near you right now or not, it can still affect your travel, visibility and air quality.

So it helps to know what’s happening, and where to watch for official updates.

It’s important to know that not every fire is dangerous.

According to Natural Resources Canada, many will burn themselves out. Others will stop after it rains.

Fire managers keep track of which fires are a threat to humans. They decide where firefighters should focus their time and energy.

In the future, wildfires are likely to happen more often. They may also be more powerful.

Why? Climate change is partly to blame, according to Natural Resources Canada.

The Canadian government is working on plans to adapt to — or prepare for — this reality.

It can be scary to read about all this. Here are some expert tips for coping.

It’s important to stay away from evacuation zones and allow firefighters to do their work.

The good news is, preventing fires is something everybody can help with — even kids.

For example, you can be careful not to light a campfire when fires are banned where you live.

Go online and search the words “fire ban” and the name of your province or territory to find out more.

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With files from The Canadian Press, Benjamin Shingler/CBC, Graeme Bruce/CBC TOP IMAGE CREDIT: Graphic design by Krishen Persad/CBC