Karmactive Staff
The calendar may show September, but British Columbia’s wildfire conditions mirror those typically seen in August’s peak season. With 155 active fires burning across the province and 58 classified as out of control, officials warn the danger remains high.
“The risk of new wildfire starts remains a serious issue for much of the province,” said Forests Minister Ravi Parmar during a Wednesday briefing. The past week has seen over 6,000 lightning strikes ignite numerous fires amid persistent drought conditions.
Record-breaking temperatures continue to fuel fire activity, with some areas experiencing heat up to 10°C above normal. No significant rainfall is in the forecast, and more lightning is expected to hit coastal areas by the end of the week.
“We’re seeing that our fuels are very receptive for this time of year,” explained Cliff Chapman, director of Provincial Operations for the BC Wildfire Service. “September is when we normally start to see the burning period shrink. Our fuels are less receptive to new starts. This September, we’re seeing the opposite.”
Smoke from these fires has triggered air quality warnings across Western Canada. About 3.5 million people in Metro Vancouver and the Fraser Valley have been advised to limit outdoor exposure and seek spaces with air filtration. The Vancouver School Board moved all activities indoors, while WorkSafeBC warned employers to protect outdoor workers.
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Dr. Sarah Henderson from the BC Centre for Disease Control emphasized the health risks: “Most people will only have mild symptoms from wildfire smoke, maybe a sore throat, stinging eyes, a bit of a headache. Those things are normal and usually transient.” However, she warned that growing evidence suggests wildfire smoke can have longer-lasting health impacts, particularly for vulnerable groups like those with lung conditions, pregnant women, and children.
Environment Canada has expanded air quality bulletins to more than 30 areas spanning B.C., Alberta, the Northwest Territories, and parts of Saskatchewan.
The 2025 wildfire season already ranks as Canada’s second-worst on record after 2023, with over 7.3 million hectares burned nationwide. The recent helicopter incident near Pemberton, where a craft carrying firefighters made a forced landing, highlights the ongoing dangers faced by frontline crews battling these fires since April.
Officials expect more smoke to reach the central and southern Interior overnight, eventually reaching Abbotsford and coastal areas by Friday. “We are still in an active wildfire season,” Parmar stressed. “Everybody must do what they can to help prevent new wildfire starts.”
The one small advantage September brings is shorter days, which provide less daylight hours for fires to burn compared to August. However, with no significant rain forecast and continued high temperatures, the wildfire threat remains serious across much of the province.
