Canada Says 50% of Wildfires Are Unfightable as Lightning Drives 92% of Area Burned
Updated
Updated · The New York Times · Jul 18
Canada Says 50% of Wildfires Are Unfightable as Lightning Drives 92% of Area Burned
3 articles · Updated · The New York Times · Jul 18
Summary
Half of Canada’s wildfires burn in remote northern areas where firefighters often cannot reach them, leaving many blazes to spread or burn out naturally.
Lightning ignites many of those fires in highly combustible boreal forest, and experts say the critical first 30 minutes are often lost before crews can arrive by air and get on the ground.
Water bombers can slow flames but cannot extinguish them alone; without road access or nearby crews, even much higher spending would not stop many of these fires, according to fire expert Michael Flannigan.
Lightning causes about 50% of Canada’s fires but 92% of the total area burned, while the land scorched annually has nearly quadrupled since the 1970s.
Warmer temperatures are lengthening fire seasons and increasing lightning, Flannigan said, and Canada also views some remote fires as ecologically useful because they clear fuel and help forests regenerate.
As US states deploy advanced fire-fighting drones, why can't Canada extinguish its 'impossible' wildfires?
If wildfires are natural and even beneficial for forests, should we be trying to stop them at all?
With toxic smoke becoming an annual event, how must our cities and healthcare systems permanently adapt?
Canada Ablaze: 858 Active Wildfires in 2026 and the Fight for a Resilient Future
Overview
As of mid-July 2026, Canada is facing a severe wildfire crisis, with 858 active fires burning across multiple provinces such as Ontario, British Columbia, and Nova Scotia. Most of these fires are out of control, creating major challenges for emergency services. Many blazes are in remote areas, but their smoke is spreading widely, causing hazardous air quality even in U.S. states like Michigan and Ohio. The situation highlights the growing impact of climate change, as hotter and drier conditions fuel more frequent and intense wildfires, making them harder to manage and increasing risks for both Canadians and neighboring regions.