BC Wildfires 2025: Unprecedented Fire Activity Threatens Communities as Province Battles Third Year of Drought
Introduction
British Columbia is entering its third year of drought, with wildfires already forcing evacuations and threatening homes, particularly in the province’s northeast. The combination of higher than normal temperatures and below average rainfall has led to one of the most severe wildfire seasons on record, with western Canada being disproportionately impacted.
Current Situation
The start of the 2025 wildfire season has been particularly intense compared to historical records. By June 10, the fires had already burned 3.2 million hectares, surpassing the annual average of 2.95 million hectares. By early August, the fires reached a significant milestone, becoming the second-worst in recorded history by area burned.
Challenges and Response
Multi-year drought conditions continue to persist in the northeast corner of the province and parts of the Central Interior. These deep drought conditions, ongoing since 2022 in some regions, continue to pose challenges to wildfire response. Many overwintering fires that smouldered through the winter have re-intensified under dry conditions and heightened winds, with the potential to re-invigorate through the beginning of summer. Long-range guidance suggests a warmer-than-normal summer across much of B.C., and the amount of rain required to mitigate the current drought is unlikely to occur.
Government Action and Prevention
Throughout this winter and heading into 2025, authorities continue working with partners to improve cooperation with communities that possess local knowledge and expertise. The BC Wildfire Service is developing solutions to expand training and equipment opportunities to communities interested in integrating with their operations. The federal government has pledged an investment of nearly $12 million over four years to establish Wildfire Resilience Consortium Canada (WRCC).
Looking Ahead
Given current conditions, there is an increased likelihood of large, challenging fires in the northeast corner of B.C. again this summer, as well as other dry pockets in the Southwestern Interior and Chilcotin regions. While conditions indicate continued aggressive fire behaviour in northeast B.C., along with other drought-stricken areas, the longer-term forecast will depend heavily on the amount of precipitation received in the weeks ahead.
