More than 280 forest fires are burning across the country.
Eighty are considered not under control.
Derek Treherne with Public Safety Canada says the good news is that the number of fires this season is far below the activity experienced last year.
“But we are now into the heart of our fire season, and we are tracking carefully a number of fires across the country and the expansion of general fire wildfire activity so far this year,” says Treherne.
Most of the fire activity is taking place in western Canada.
Director General of Natural Resources Canada Michael Norton says there remains the possibility of increased fire activity elsewhere.
“The current heat wave being experienced across much of the western part of the country is driving fire risk, at least in the short term, and expected dry conditions may increase the intensity and extent of drought over the next couple of months,” says Norton.
“The potential for active fire lies predominantly in western Canada, from British Columbia and Yukon eastward toward Ontario.”
Officials note that, to date, the number of hectares burned is tracking at or slightly below the average for this time of year.
