There have been 5,738 wild fires in Canada so far this year, which have burned 13.7 million hectares (33.9 million acres). At least four firefighters have died in Canada.
The previous record wildfire season was in 1989, when 7.6 million hectares (18.8 million hectares) were torched.
This year’s fires started in late April in the western provinces of British Columbia and Alberta, displacing more than 30,000 people at their peak, and temporarily shutting down oil and gas production. Reuters 19 August 2023