Canadian Wildland Fire Information System

National Wildland Fire Situation Report

Archived reports

Current as of: July 23, 2014

Current active fires
Uncontrolled Controlled Modified Response
54 113 246
2014
(to date)		 10-yr avg
(to date)		 % normal Prescribed U.S.
Number 2,918 4,397 66 51 31,081
Area
(ha)		 1,404,537 1,611,232 87 7,461 640,210

Priority fires

  • BC - 5 fires (63,077+ ha)
  • PC - 1 fire (7,000+ ha)

    • Interagency mobilization

    The National Preparedness Level is at 4 this week. Resource mobilization is above average, with competition for national resources. The agency preparedness level for British Columbia and Alberta increased to 4, the Northwest Territories and Parks Canada decreased to 3, while all other provinces and territories are a level 1 or 2. Agencies are using – 6 aircraft, 813 personnel, 400 power pumps and 67 km of hose along with a variety of other equipment. Lightning activity accounted for 60% of this week’s fires. The United States is at preparedness level 3, with large fires burning in Arizona, California, Idaho, Oregon, Nevada, Utah, and Washington.

    Weekly Synopsis

    There have been 242 new fires and 222,238 ha burned this week. The weekly fire occurrence increased to above average for the first time this year, due to increased activity in British Columbia. The area burned in Western and Northern regions of Canada this week is above average, while the area burned in most regions of Central and Eastern Canada is below average for this time of year. The majority of this week’s fires occurred in British Columbia, Alberta, and the Northwest Territories (37%, 19%, and 17% respectively), while the majority of the area burned was in British Columbia, Northwest Territories and Saskatchewan (58%, 22%, and 16% respectively). Seasonal fire occurrence and area burned both remain below the 10-year average nationally.

    Nationally, fire danger is high. Fire danger has decreased to moderate to high in British Columbia, Alberta, and Saskatchewan. The Northwest Territories is at very high to extreme fire danger, while the Yukon and Manitoba are at low fire danger. Ontario and Quebec increased to moderate to high fire danger. The fire danger in Atlantic Canada increased to high with large areas of extreme indices.

    In British Columbia, restrictions on open fires are in place for all fire zones. Campfire restrictions are in place for the Kamloops and Cariboo fire zones. In the Prince George fire zone, a forest use restriction is in place for the forested area around the Red Deer Creek fire. In Alberta, fire bans are in place for Black Diamond, Brazeau County, Crowsnest Pass, and Turner Valley. Many other central and northwestern Alberta regions have implemented fire advisories, and portions of the forest in southwest Alberta have been closed. In the Northwest Territories, smoke continues to be an issue in the North Slave Region, including Yellowknife, causing poor visibility for highway travel. In Quebec, industrial burning permits have been suspended in the Baie-Comeau region. In New Brunswick, category 1 burning has been suspended for all districts. In Nova Scotia, burning is restricted to the hours of 07:00 p.m. until 08:00 a.m. in the counties of Annapolis, Digby, Lunenburg, Queens, Shelburne, and Yarmouth, and banned in all other counties. In Prince Edward Island, burning permits have been suspended in all districts. An open fire ban is in place for the Island of Newfoundland.

    Prognosis

    Fire weather indexes and activity will be reduced between Wednesday (July 23) and Friday (July 25) as a strong low pressure area moves through southern British Columbia and into the Prairie Provinces. Drying begins in British Columbia on Saturday (July 26) and quickly spreads eastwards as the week of July 27 begins, allowing indexes to begin rebounding. Eastern Ontario through the Maritime Provinces receives occasional showers, with most of the region under a stationary low pressure area. The area between the southern half of the Mackenzie Valley and northwestern Ontario remains generally dry, with the possible thunderstorms in the Northwest Territories generating more fire activity late in this period.

    Nationally, fire danger is expected to remain elevated over the coming week. Fire danger in British Columbia will likely decrease briefly, and then increase again. Fire danger is expected to decrease to moderate through the south-central prairies, while remaining high in northern areas. Ontario and Quebec will likely remain at moderate to high fire danger. Fire danger in Atlantic Canada is expected to decrease to moderate fire danger. The area to watch this week is the Northwest Territories, where the extreme fire danger will likely persist. National resources may not be sufficient to manage the anticipated fire activity.

    Current graphs

    Note: For provinces, PC = Parks Canada

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