The images of the Jasper wildfire are stark.
The fire in Jasper National Park began on July 22 and resulted in more than 25,000 people evacuated and at least 358 buildings destroyed within the townsite.
Another wildfire, near Fort Nelson, B.C., began on May 10 and forced 4,700 people to leave their homes. It was not until a month later that the fire was listed as under control.
The 2024 wildfire season has been active in British Columbia and Alberta, as well as in other parts of the country. However, this year is not the only time wildfires have threatened properties and communities.
Nationwide, the amount of land burned in Canada in 2023 was far greater than in any other year on record, with 2,131 wildfires destroying 17,203,625 hectares.
In British Columbia, more than 2.84 million hectares of forest and land were burned. This was the worst year in the province鈥檚 recorded history and was greater than the amount burned in 2018 and 2017 combined. Previously, those two years had been the most destructive in British Columbia鈥檚 history.
One bad year, or even one bad wildfire season, could be seen as an anomaly.
However, wildfire damage has become far too common in recent years.
The Lytton wildfire in June 2021 reached a size of 83,740 hectares and devastated the community.
In 2016, Fort McMurray, Alta. was ravaged by a wildfire which reached 589,552 hectares in size.
West Kelowna was at risk in 2009 when three wildfires threatened the Okanagan city.
The McLure Fire and Okanagan Mountain Park Fire from 2003 resulted in widespread damage, close to populated areas in British Columbia.
Campfire bans are put in place each summer, and during some of the worst wildfire seasons, travel bans have been put in place. Many residents in the B.C. Interior have grab-and-go bags near their doors during the summer months, in case they need to evacuate on short notice.
Plans and strategies are needed to help provinces and territories, regions and communities cope with wildfires. And long-term plans are needed to reduce the frequency and size of the wildfires happening locally and nationwide.
The busy wildfire activity seen in recent years is not normal.
鈥� Black Press
