2023 Wildfire Season: British Columbia

A video summarizing the very challenging and devastating 2023 Wildfire Season in British Columbia from The BC Wildfire Season. This was the most destructive season in British Columbia history. According to the description on the video page 2,245 wildfires burned at least 2.84 million hectares. The season started early and five wildland firefighters died. Allow just over eleven minutes to watch the video. My condolences go out to the family, colleagues and friends of the wildland firefighters who died. 

I shared this video on my video of the week page for four days, I decided that it was important to acknowledge the devastating 2023 wildfire season in British Columbia in a post that will not be expiring after a week. I do so because I care and want to honor all those who fought these wildfires and the destruction that these wildfires caused.

Direct link to video from the BC Wildfire Service on YouTube

2023 Canadian Wildfire Season: Summary of the Season

Like many of you, I have been following the 2023 wildfire season in Canada, by far the worst season on record. My heart goes out to all those affected by these wildfires, residents and businesses who lost structures, those who were evacuated, and the wildland firefighters from around Canada with international support. I have been interested in finding a summary of the season when I came across a video from The Weather Network, thanks to my friends from the NJ Forest Fire Service who shared this video yesterday on their home page (updated daily). According to the information presented in this video, there were 6,573 wildfires (to date) in Canada in 2023. The video has some graphics and maps, a nice map detailing the wildfire activity by province, and short discussions of some wildfires.

Direct link to video from The Weather Network on YouTube

Source of News on International Wildfires and a video report from Australia on the 2023 Canadian Wildfire Season

Of late I have been interested in paying closer attention to wildfires outside the United States and as I am able posting about it here. My interest stemmed from a conversation with someone where we were discussing wildfires in the United States and wildfires outside the United States. In considering international wildfires I find Wildfire Today to be a useful resource as they will post about larger international wildfires and related concerns. For example, Kelly Andersson post about the wildfires in Greece on July 22nd and September 5th. Kelly Andersson wrote a September 24th article about the European Union's planned purchase of scoopers fire aviation articles on their sister site, Fire Aviation and just a couple of days ago he wrote about a Canadian tanker pilot. And then there are news sources within various countries that are too numerous to name here.

Another source for news on international wildfires is Mike Archer's Wildfire News of the Day, a five day week newsletter covering wildfires from around the world.

A couple days ago while I was on YouTube, I came across an in-depth news report posted in late August 2023 from the Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC). An ABC reporter went to Canada to report on the 2023 Canadian Wildfires for an ABC show aptly titled Foreign Correspondent. I am embedding this 30 minute video below. I learned more about Canada's 2023 wildfire season, and saw some of the firefighters from around the world helping including but not necessarily limited to Australia, South Africa, and the United States. I saw images of the devastation of these fires including a couple of interviews from people affected by the wildfires. I also learned a little more about the Australian wildland firefighters (known as fireys), and their concerns for their upcoming wildfire season. Canada is ready to help the Australians if the need arises.

Direct link to video from ABC (Australian Broadcasting Corporation) News In-depth

2023 Canadian Wildfire Season: Yellowknife NWT Evacuees Returning Home

A couple of recent conversations with friends about the devastating wildfire season in Canada inspired me to find out what is happening in Canada as progress has been made on some wildfires and other wildfires are still burning. I knew from media outlets and from Wildfire Today's excellent coverage that the entire city of Yellowknife (see for example this August 17th article from NBS News), Northwest Territories in Canada was evacuated in mid-August 2023 (on or about August 17th and 18th), see this August 17th article from Kelly Andersson of Wildfire Today A shout out to Mike Archer of Wildfire News of the Day who covered the Canadian Wildfires and the Yellowknife evacuation in his newsletters.

I was wondering what happened in Yellowknife so I went to CBC News on Youtube where I looked through their videos until I found a September 6th 15 minute video report on Yellowknife residents returning home, evacuation in reverse. But first I went to the City of Yellowknife NWT to learn about returning home. The video shares most of this information in a little more detail than I will go into here, but I learned some basics of the timeline. Here is a screenshot I got from the Yellowknife Welcome Home Page dated September 2, 2023:

Obtained on September 18, 2023 from https://www.yellowknife.ca/en/living-here/the-road-to-re-entry.aspx#Road-to-Home-Yellowknifes-Planned-Re-entry-Information-September-2-2023

You will see that after it was determined that Yellowknife was safe from wildfire and they checked for damage and identified critical services that essential personnel for critical services were allowed to return on August 29th. On September 4th and 5th basic services began to put back in place. On September 6th, the general public, those not in need of critical services (watch the video) and see this September 4th article from NNSL media.

As I understand it took some time for the general public of Yellowknife to return as there is only one road in, people were encouraged to bring 3 days worth of food and shelters were set up along the way. Because it will take some time for critical workers and services to restored, it could be as long as a month (early October?) before Yellowknife residents needing critical services are allowed back. 

Some basic services such as the library, transit services, some recreational facilities, solid waste pick-up and city hall were up and running on or about September 11th. See this September 7th media advisory from Yellowknife for more information (note I am not certain how long this link will remain active).

I am embedding the September 6th video from the CBC featuring Andrew Chang, allow just over 15 minutes to watch the entire video. You will get a feeling for what returning to Yellowknife entailed as well as a review of the August 17th and 18th evacuations.

Finally, I am not embedding this video, but here is another 15 minute from the CBC about the general public returning to Yellowknife.

Fourth Wildland Firefighter Died in Canada

 On July 17th I wrote about two wildland firefighters who died in Canada. On July 21st I had the sad task of writing about a third wildland firefighter who died in Canada. Yesterday I learned of a fourth wildland firefighter who died in Canada. The 25-year old male firefighter from Ontario died in British Columbia when the truck he was driving overturned, see this June 29th article on Fire Aviation. In addition you may also want to see a July 31st article from Firehouse News. I learned of the Firehouse News article from Mike Archer's Wildfire News of the Day newsletter on July 31st. Thanks to Firehouse News and the NJ Forest Fire Service Section B10 for the video that I share below. I offer my prayers to the family, friends and all who loved these deceased wildland firefighters.

Direct link to video from CBC News on YouTube

A third wildland firefighter (flying a helicopter) died in Canada this week

In Canada's worse wildfire season in history, another firefighter died this week fighting wildfires. A 41 year helicopter died near Peace River Alberta while doing bucket work on a wildfire on Wednesday evening, July 19th. Rescue crews performed CPR to no avail, the pilot died at the scene. The pilot was the only occupant of the helicopter. This is the third death of a Canadian wildland firefighter this year, the third in about a week. A sad shot out to my friends at the NJ Forest Fire Service Section B10 who shared this video on their webpage this morning. May he fly in favorable tail winds, I offer my prayers to his family, friends, colleagues and all who loved him.

Added on July 31st, Fire Aviation published an article on this line of duty death on  July 21st, go here to read the article, identifying the deceased pilot as 41-year old Ryan Gould of Whitecourt, Alberta

Direct link to video from CityNews on YouTube

Two wildland firefighters died in Canada

 I am saddened to read about not one but two wildland firefighters who died recently fighting wildfires in Canada. A male firefighter, not identified, died on Saturday fighting a wildfire in the Northwest Territories. On Thursday, 19-year old Devyn Gale died while she was fighting a wildfire in British Columbia, Wildfire Today wrote a July 15th article about Devyn's death, May both firefighters rest in peace and I offer my prayers and condolences for their families, friends, colleagues and all who loved them.

Updated on July 18th, 12:11 PM EDT: Sometime after I posted this article yesterday morning, Wildfire Today posted an article reporting on the death of the wildland firefighter who died fighting a wildfire in the Northwest Territories. To the best of my knowledge at the time I write this update, the identity of the firefighter has not been released.

Direct link to video from CBC Vancouver

Direct link to video from CBC News: The National

2023 Wildfire Season: South Africa Sends Firefighters to Canada

Following up on the article I posted on July 10th on a Vermont Forester Helping Fight Fires in Quebec, I just found a nice video from the AP Archives that starts out with South African firefighters who are or were deployed to Canada before moving some images of these wildfires, a soundbite from a one women who lost her home in the Canadian Wildfires, and a soundbite from a Canadian Firefighter. If you go directly to the Video on YouTube from the AP Archives and click on show more you will see a description of what is in the video.

I continue to pray for all affected by these wildfires and all those firefighters from Canada and around the world working these wildfires.

2023 Wildfire Season: Vermont Forester Deployment to Quebec

I knew from social media that some northeastern states had deployed firefighters to Canada to assist in fighting the massive wildfires in Canada, but I did not know specific details until I saw a recent report on Vermont Public (Radio) with an interview of a Vermont Forester, Choloe Sardonis, who recently spent two weeks as a part of a team from the Northeastern Forest Fire Protection Compact deployed to Quebec. She joined firefighters from New York, New Hampshire, and Maine on a two week deployment to Maniwaki, Quebec. Before I get to the interview from Vermont Public, I want to share a little about the Northeastern Forest Fire Protection Commission.

Here is an overview of the Northeastern Forest Fire Protection Compact: 

The Northeastern Forest Fire Protection Commission (commonly called the Northeast Compact) is the pioneer forest fire protection compact in the United States. Its mandate is to provide the means for its U.S. member states and Canadian provinces to cope with fires that might be beyond the capabilities of a single member through information, technology and resource sharing (mutual aid) activities.

Several U.S. States, Canadian Provinces, Federal Agencies and one US. City are members of this compact, see this NFFPC webpage for more information:

• State of Connecticut
• State of Maine
• State of Massachusetts
• State of New Hampshire
• State of New York
• State of Rhode Island
• State of Vermont
• New York City (in the State of New York)
• Federal Agencies in the NFFPP include the Bureau of Indian Affairs, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, U.S. Forest Service and the U.S. National Park Service
• Province of New Brunswick (Canada)
• Province of Newfoundland and Labrador (Canada)
• Province of Nova Scotia (Canada)
• Province of Prince Edward Island (Canada
• Province of Quebec (Canada)

Two Teams from the NFFPC are currently deployed to Quebec, information about current and recent deployments by the NFFPC may be found here. Allow just under seven minutes to listen to the interview.

Interview of Vermont Forester Chloe Sardonia by Jenn Jarecki of Vermont Public (Thursday, July 6, 2023) Allow just under seven minutes to listen to the interview.

2023 Wildfire Season: Canada's Worst Fireseason Ever

 I was interested in the very bad wildfire season in Canada, so I wrote this on June 26th. I was not sure if or how I should follow up until I went to the New Jersey Forest Fire Service Section B10 webpage where they post videos relating to wildland firefighting and related issues each day. Today I saw a video report on YouTube from the Canadian Broadcast Service, CBC News uploaded on or about June 27th reporting that this is the worst wildfire season ever in Canada. I share this here, and my heart goes out to Canada, firefighters and citizens, as they deal with these massive wildfires.

Direct link to video from CBC News on YouTube

2023 Wildfire Season: Massive Wildfires in Canada Continue

Obtained on June 26, 2023 from https://cwfis.cfs.nrcan.gc.ca/maps/fm3?type=tri&year=2023&month=6&day=26

About once or twice a week I see an article about the wildfires burning in Canada, today I saw this article from the Express and Star reporting on wildfire smoke from Canada drifting towards the United Kingdom. I was curious both about the extent of these wildfires, so I went to the Canadian Wildfire Information System. They have lots of information so if you are curious about a larger view of the current wildfire situation in Canada this is one site where you may go. I suspect that each Province has their own forest fire website and I will leave you to your own devices to find those sites if you are interested.  Anyway, I found a hotspot map on the Canadian Wildfire Information System website dated today, June 26th which I shared above with a link. 

I was curious about some numbers for the wildfires that have burned in Canada this year. I found a report, dated June 21st (what you see may be different if you access the report later). These reports appear to be updated weekly and you may find three months worth of archived reports in the appropriate link. According to the June 21st report there have been 2,765 wildfires year to date burning 5,958,026 hectares (14,722,603 acres). The ten year year to date average is 2,068 wildfires burning 393.746 hectares (979,968 acres). The Canadian Interagency Fire Center (CIFFC) -- similar to the Inciweb Incident Management System in the U.S. -- has  a clickable map that you may access.

Having seen reports of wildfire crew deployments to Canada from various States in the United States as well as countries from around the world, I was curious to see a listing of deployments to Canada. The June 21st report from the Canadian Wildfire Information System provided this information:

At the time of this report, aircraft, personnel, and equipment have been mobilized to Alberta, Quebec, Nova Scotia, Northwest Territories, and CIFFC from across Canada. There are American, Australian, New Zealand, South African, French, Spanish, Portuguese, Mexican, Chilean, and Costa Rican personnel active in Canada, with additional personnel from Australia, and New Zealand, Mexico, and the United States anticipated.