2023 Canadian wildfires: Difference between revisions - Wikipedia

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== Background ==

The frequency, intensity, and timing of wildfires in Canada have changed over time. In general, since the 1970s and 1980s, the total annual number of wildfires has decreased but the area burned in Canada has increased.<ref name=":25">{{Cite news |last1=Shingler |first1=Benjamin |last2=Bruce |first2=Graeme |title=How wildfires are changing in Canada |publisher=[[CBC News]] |url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/climate/canada-wildfire-data-change-1.6854186 |url-status=live |access-date=June 8, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230604192051/https://www.cbc.ca/news/climate/canada-wildfire-data-change-1.6854186 |archive-date=June 4, 2023}}</ref> Since 1959, the number of large fires greater than {{convert|200|ha|acre|abbr=unit}} has increased and the average fire season has become longer by about two weeks.<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Hanes |first1=Chelene C. |last2=Wang |first2=Xianli |last3=Jain |first3=Piyush |last4=Parisien |first4=Marc-André |last5=Little |first5=John M. |last6=Flannigan |first6=Mike D. |date=November 16, 2018 |title=Fire-regime changes in Canada over the last half century |url=https://cdnsciencepub.com/doi/10.1139/cjfr-2018-0293 |journal=Canadian Journal of Forest Research |volume=49 |issue=3 |pages=256–269 |doi=10.1139/cjfr-2018-0293 |s2cid=91682728 |issn=0045-5067 |access-date=June 18, 2023 |archive-date=June 18, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230618225102/https://cdnsciencepub.com/doi/10.1139/cjfr-2018-0293 |url-status=live}}</ref> In Canada, wildfire season usually starts in May.<ref name=":26">{{cite web |date=May 11, 2023 |title=Wildfires Rage in Western Canada |url=https://www.nesdis.noaa.gov/news/wildfires-rage-western-canada |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230531101543/https://www.nesdis.noaa.gov/news/wildfires-rage-western-canada |archive-date=May 31, 2023 |access-date=June 9, 2023 |publisher=[[National Environmental Satellite, Data, and Information Service]] }}</ref> The 2023 fires have beenwere compared to the [[2016 Fort McMurray wildfire]]<ref>{{cite news |last=Bilefsky |first=Dan |date=May 20, 2023 |title=A 'Canadian Armageddon' Sets Parts of Western Canada on Fire |work=[[The New York Times]] |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2023/05/19/world/canada/canada-wildfire-alberta-british-columbia.html |url-status=live |url-access=limited |access-date=June 9, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230603055101/https://www.nytimes.com/2023/05/19/world/canada/canada-wildfire-alberta-british-columbia.html |archive-date=June 3, 2023}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last=Chilukuri |first=Siri |date=May 20, 2023 |title=Wildfires have burned nearly 1 million acres in western Canada |work=[[Grist (magazine)|Grist]] |url=https://grist.org/wildfires/canadian-wildfires-destroy-nearly-1-million-acres-alberta/ |url-status=live |access-date=June 9, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230530200005/https://grist.org/wildfires/canadian-wildfires-destroy-nearly-1-million-acres-alberta/ |archive-date=May 30, 2023}}</ref> and the 2021 [[Lytton wildfire]].<ref name=":27" />

Due to [[climate change]], weather has been warmer and drier, raising wildfire risk as vegetation is more flammable under these conditions.<ref name=":25" /><ref>{{cite news |date=June 8, 2023 |title=How did the Canadian wildfires start? A look at what's driving the fires that covered the East Coast in smoke |publisher=[[CBS News]] |url=https://www.cbsnews.com/news/how-did-the-wildfires-in-canada-start-cause-nova-scotia-quebec/ |url-status=live |access-date=June 9, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230607224828/https://www.cbsnews.com/news/how-did-the-wildfires-in-canada-start-cause-nova-scotia-quebec/ |archive-date=June 7, 2023}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |date=May 19, 2023 |title=Alberta, Canada, wildfires show no sign of slowing, experts say -GB |publisher=[[BBC News]] |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-65638922 |url-status=live |access-date=June 9, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230528120138/https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-65638922 |archive-date=May 28, 2023}}</ref><ref name=":27">{{cite news |last=Leonard |first=Diana |date=May 18, 2023 |title=Experts see climate change fingerprint in worsening heat waves and fires |newspaper=[[The Washington Post]] |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/weather/2023/05/18/western-wildfires-canada-climate-change-heat/ |access-date=June 8, 2023}}</ref> Wind from a passing [[cold front]] during the week of May 18 exacerbated the fire risk.<ref name=":27"/> Canadian [[Minister of Public Safety]] [[Bill Blair (politician)|Bill Blair]] said: "These conditions, this early in the season, are unprecedented. Due to climate change, similar [[extreme weather events]] may continue to increase in both frequency and severity across our country."<ref>{{cite news |title=Canada facing 'deeply concerning' wildfire season: Official |publisher=[[Al Jazeera Media Network|Al Jazeera]] |url=https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2023/6/1/canada-facing-deeply-concerning-wildfire-season-official |url-status=live |access-date=June 9, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230603115344/https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2023/6/1/canada-facing-deeply-concerning-wildfire-season-official |archive-date=June 3, 2023}}</ref> Following the Quebec wildfires, an analysis by [[World Weather Attribution]] showed that in Quebec, because of climate change, fire weather is twice as likely to occur and 20% more intense.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Shingler |first=Benjamin |date=August 22, 2023 |title=Climate change made weather conditions that powered Quebec fires twice as likely, scientists say |url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/climate/quebec-climate-change-wildfires-research-1.6943502 |access-date=August 23, 2023 |website=[[CBC News]] |archive-date=August 23, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230823050440/https://www.cbc.ca/news/climate/quebec-climate-change-wildfires-research-1.6943502 |url-status=live }}</ref> The [[2023 Western North America heat wave]] exacerbated the wildfires in Alberta.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Prociv |first=Kathryn |date=2023-05-15 |title=Pacific Northwest heat wave continues after historic weekend |url=https://www.nbcnews.com/news/weather/pacific-northwest-heat-wave-continues-historic-weekend-rcna84423 |access-date=2023-05-21 |website=[[NBC News]] |language=en |archive-date=May 21, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230521080844/https://www.nbcnews.com/news/weather/pacific-northwest-heat-wave-continues-historic-weekend-rcna84423 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Canon |first=Gabrielle |date=2023-05-15 |title=Punishing heatwave grips Pacific north-west as wildfires rage in western Canada |language=en-GB |work=[[The Guardian]] |url=https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2023/may/15/heatwave-pacific-north-west-canada-wildfires |access-date=2023-05-21 |issn=0261-3077 |archive-date=May 21, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230521080842/https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2023/may/15/heatwave-pacific-north-west-canada-wildfires |url-status=live }}</ref>

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[[Forest management]] is also a factor in the wildfires. Because Canada's forest management has focused on [[Wildfire suppression|fire suppression]], dry vegetation has accumulated on the forest floor.<ref>{{cite news |date=June 7, 2023 |title=What to know about the Canadian wildfires causing poor air quality in the U.S. |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/climate-environment/2023/06/07/canada-wildfires-weather-air-quality/ |access-date=June 16, 2023 |newspaper=[[The Washington Post]] |archive-date=June 8, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230608170250/https://www.washingtonpost.com/climate-environment/2023/06/07/canada-wildfires-weather-air-quality/ |url-status=live}}</ref> Canada has generally stopped performing [[controlled burn]]s, which help reduce the risk of larger and more dangerous fires.<ref name=BBC>{{cite web |last=Kaminski |first=Isabella |title=Did climate change cause Canada's wildfires? |url=https://www.bbc.com/future/article/20230612-did-climate-change-cause-canadas-wildfires |date=June 12, 2023 |access-date=June 12, 2023 |publisher=[[BBC Future]] |archive-date=June 12, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230612145614/https://www.bbc.com/future/article/20230612-did-climate-change-cause-canadas-wildfires |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |date=December 6, 2016 |title=Prescribed Fire |url=https://www.fs.usda.gov/managing-land/prescribed-fire |access-date=June 12, 2023 |publisher=[[United States Forest Service]] |archive-date=June 12, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230612162204/https://www.fs.usda.gov/managing-land/prescribed-fire |url-status=live}}</ref> It is difficult to get permission for controlled burns, especially for [[Indigenous peoples in Canada|Indigenous groups]] who have historically performed them and are disproportionately affected by wildfires.<ref>{{Cite journal |last1=Hoffman |first1=Kira M. |last2=Christianson |first2=Amy Cardinal |last3=Dickson-Hoyle |first3=Sarah |last4=Copes-Gerbitz |first4=Kelsey |last5=Nikolakis |first5=William |last6=Diabo |first6=David A. |last7=McLeod |first7=Robin |last8=Michell |first8=Herman J. |last9=Mamun |first9=Abdullah Al |last10=Zahara |first10=Alex |last11=Mauro |first11=Nicholas |last12=Gilchrist |first12=Joe |last13=Ross |first13=Russell Myers |last14=Daniels |first14=Lori D. |date=January 2022 |title=The right to burn: barriers and opportunities for Indigenous-led fire stewardship in Canada |journal=FACETS |volume=7 |issue=1 |pages=464–481 |doi=10.1139/facets-2021-0062|s2cid=247891618|doi-access=free }}</ref><ref name="NYT Prevention" /> Canada lacks a national firefighting service, and local resources are stretched thin due to budget cuts.<ref name="NYT Prevention">{{cite news |last1=Isai |first1=Vjosa |last2=Austen |first2=Ian |date=June 9, 2023 |title=Canada's Ability to Prevent Forest Fires Lags Behind the Need |work=[[The New York Times]] |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2023/06/09/world/canada/canada-firefighting-capacity.html |access-date=June 14, 2023 |url-access=limited |archive-date=June 14, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230614024810/https://www.nytimes.com/2023/06/09/world/canada/canada-firefighting-capacity.html |url-status=live}}</ref>

Roughly half of all wildfires in Canada are caused by [[Lightning strike|lightning]]; due to climate change, lightning-caused fires are happening more frequently, and lightning strikes are expected to double by the end of the century.<ref name=":25" /><ref>{{cite journal |last1=Veraverbeke |first1=Sander |last2=Rogers |first2=Brendan M. |last3=Goulden |first3=Mike L. |last4=Jandt |first4=Randi R. |last5=Miller |first5=Charles E. |last6=Wiggins |first6=Elizabeth B. |last7=Randerson |first7=James T. |date=June 26, 2017 |title=Lightning as a major driver of recent large fire years in North American boreal forests |url=https://www.nature.com/articles/nclimate3329.epdf?sharing_token=U4YPVzDbwHkgv1F7rGPEfNRgN0jAjWel9jnR3ZoTv0OpPbcUuw2Q7Z_IUJx0DLpDsyASll9OpOJqR7xDL_237heh4y675zyizqvECLDZjUgNWTb9vgYAy0ZLS-VVOwjYWJ2eAlDnIJbUA9-FivWV6-TPlRtMXTF8ULDY446WHL6hiM5qpPzACCqPFfvSnE5v01Sq7oH-ysrYyiHBwEdQSJ3Tl75-uBcgoyk7iyA4gynzdQQqaK_XEJTLAsgOPSsD1OEpO9feIK4DpPTG-UHLOw%3D%3D&tracking_referrer=www.cbc.ca |journal=[[Nature Climate Change]] |volume=7 |issue=7 |pages=529–534 |bibcode=2017NatCC...7..529V |doi=10.1038/nclimate3329 |access-date=June 9, 2023 |archive-date=June 30, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230630100134/https://www.nature.com/articles/nclimate3329.epdf?sharing_token=U4YPVzDbwHkgv1F7rGPEfNRgN0jAjWel9jnR3ZoTv0OpPbcUuw2Q7Z_IUJx0DLpDsyASll9OpOJqR7xDL_237heh4y675zyizqvECLDZjUgNWTb9vgYAy0ZLS-VVOwjYWJ2eAlDnIJbUA9-FivWV6-TPlRtMXTF8ULDY446WHL6hiM5qpPzACCqPFfvSnE5v01Sq7oH-ysrYyiHBwEdQSJ3Tl75-uBcgoyk7iyA4gynzdQQqaK_XEJTLAsgOPSsD1OEpO9feIK4DpPTG-UHLOw%3D%3D&tracking_referrer=www.cbc.ca&error=cookies_not_supported&code=726fb7a1-1c14-42a7-b7a5-dbbb49d65f57 |url-status=live|hdl=1871.1/f0235d45-ab17-490b-94d4-e2735377e60f |hdl-access=free }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Forest Fires and Climate Change |url=https://climateatlas.ca/forest-fires-and-climate-change |access-date=June 12, 2023 |website=Climate Atlas of Canada |archive-date=June 12, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230612025231/https://climateatlas.ca/forest-fires-and-climate-change |url-status=live}}</ref> In terms of wildfire acreage, lightning-caused fires account for about 85% of land burned.<ref name=":3">{{cite news |last=Johnson |first=Lisa |date=December 21, 2023 |title=No large wildfires that threatened Alberta communities caused by arson: Ministry |url=https://edmontonjournal.com/news/politics/what-we-know-and-dont-know-about-albertas-unprecedented-wildfire-season#:~:text=Of%20a%20total%20of%201%2C121,cent%20of%20total%20affected%20land. |archive-url= |archive-date= |access-date=January 19, 2024 |work=Edmonton Journal |publisher=Postmedia}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Canadian National Fire Database (CNFDB) |url=https://cwfis.cfs.nrcan.gc.ca/ha/nfdb |access-date=June 12, 2023 |publisher=[[Natural Resources Canada]] |archive-date=June 8, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230608074919/https://cwfis.cfs.nrcan.gc.ca/ha/nfdb |url-status=live}}</ref> Lightning-caused fires often happen in clusters in remote locations.<ref>{{cite web |date=July 29, 2010 |title=Lightning and forest fires |url=https://www.canada.ca/en/environment-climate-change/services/lightning/forest-fires.html |access-date=June 12, 2023 |publisher=[[Government of Canada]] |archive-date=June 12, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230612021619/https://www.canada.ca/en/environment-climate-change/services/lightning/forest-fires.html |url-status=live}}</ref> The other half of wildfires in Canada are human-caused, often unintentionally sparked<ref>{{cite web |title=Forest fire |url=https://energyeducation.ca/encyclopedia/Forest_fire |access-date=June 12, 2023 |website=Energy Education |archive-date=June 12, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230612021854/https://energyeducation.ca/encyclopedia/Forest_fire |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="NYT What to Know">{{Cite news |last1=Bilefsky |first1=Dan |last2=Austen |first2=Ian |date=June 10, 2023 |title=What to Know About Canada's Exceptional Wildfire Season |work=[[The New York Times]] |url=https://www.nytimes.com/article/canada-wildfires-what-to-know.html |url-access=limited |access-date=June 12, 2023 |archive-date=June 11, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230611234910/https://www.nytimes.com/article/canada-wildfires-what-to-know.html |url-status=live }}</ref> by things such as discarded cigarette butts,<ref name=":3" /> abandoned [[smouldering]] campfires,<ref>{{Cite news |last=Stober |first=Eric |date=June 8, 2023 |title=What causes most wildfires in Canada, and why we're 'primed' for a lot more |url=https://globalnews.ca/news/9754882/what-starts-wildfires/ |access-date=June 12, 2023 |publisher=[[Global News]] |archive-date=June 12, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230612025230/https://globalnews.ca/news/9754882/what-starts-wildfires/ |url-status=live }}</ref> sparks from braking trains, off road vehicles, and land clearing activities.<ref name="NYT What to Know" /> While false claims of [[arson]] have gained traction on social media, arson is generally a minor cause of wildfires in Canada.<ref>{{cite news |date=June 12, 2023 |last=Kaminski |first=Isabella |title=Did climate change cause Canada's wildfires? |url=https://www.bbc.com/future/article/20230612-did-climate-change-cause-canadas-wildfires |access-date=June 18, 2023 |publisher=[[BBC News]] |archive-date=June 17, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230617124240/https://www.bbc.com/future/article/20230612-did-climate-change-cause-canadas-wildfires |url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="wild-theories">{{cite news |date=June 15, 2023 |title=Who's fuelling the wild theories about Canada's wildfires |publisher=[[CBC News]] |url=https://www.cbc.ca/player/play/2227831363616 |access-date=June 17, 2023 |quote=When many fires started at once in Quebec then people took that as evidence of arson, and their claims got millions of views online. These claims were debunked by meteorologist Wagstaffe who explained that a series of lightning strikes can cause many [[smouldering]] hotspots underneath rain-moistened surface fuels; and then when those surface fuels are all dried by the daytime wind simultaneously, then they are all ignited into full blown fires simultaneously. Wagstaffe also corrected the idea that [[controlled burns]] are state-sponsored arson. |archive-date=June 17, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230617022608/https://www.cbc.ca/player/play/2227831363616 |url-status=live}}</ref>

About 150 fires continued smouldering underground over the relatively low-snow winter, and re-ignited in 2024.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.foxweather.com/learn/what-are-zombie-fires |title=What are 'zombie fires'? |author=Hillary Andrews |access-date=22 May 2024 |publisher=[[Fox Weather]]}}</ref>

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HWF-036, named the Long Lake Fire, is a rapidly growing fire classified as out of control. It is the largest fire in the province during the 2023 wildfire season, currently having an active burning area of {{convert|108402|ha|acre|0}}.<ref name="Update" /> It was started just south of the [[Rainbow Lake Airport]] and initially grew to the northwest. However, due to multiple wind shifts over the following week, the fire began to spread in an eastward direction. On May 13, the fire made a 25-kilometer run towards the community of [[Chateh]]. This also resulted in Rainbow Lake being surrounded in all directions by the wildfire, as well as power and cell service being cut off. Alberta Wildfire, the Rainbow Lake Fire Department and other fire crews from [[Alaska]] and [[Ontario]] are working together to prevent the growth of the fire.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2023-05-12 |title=High Level Area Update |url=https://srd.web.alberta.ca/high-level-area-update |access-date=2023-05-15 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230512225909/https://srd.web.alberta.ca/high-level-area-update |archive-date=2023-05-12 }}</ref> They deployed 83 firefighters, four helicopters and other heavy equipment by May 15.<ref name="high level">{{cite web |title=High Level Area Update |url=https://srd.web.alberta.ca/high-level-area-update |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230515045836/https://srd.web.alberta.ca/high-level-area-update |archive-date=May 15, 2023 |access-date=May 14, 2023 |website=Alberta Wildfire |publisher=Government of Alberta}}</ref>

HWF-030, named the Paskwa Fire, iswas another out -of -control fire spreadingthat spread eastward due to extreme conditions. It is currently atreached an active burning area of {{convert|35285|ha|acre|0}}. It is locatedwas within the community of [[Fox Lake, Alberta|Fox Lake]], and is locatedwas 13 kilometres from the community of [[Garden River, Alberta|Garden River]]. The fire remainsremained south of the Peace River. The extreme weather conditions are makingmade it hard for firefighters and aircraft to assist the fire. 76 firefighters and 13 helicopters have beenwere deployed as well as heavy equipment. A state of local emergency was declared for Fox Lake, followed by an evacuation order on May 3. An evacuation alert for Garden River was issued on May 13.<ref name="high level" /> Over 100 structures have beenwere destroyed in the community of Fox Lake as of May 11, 2023.

HWF-042 was under control at {{convert|181|ha|acre|0}} on May 6. It was {{convert|1|km|mi|0}} north of the [[Alberta Highway 88|Highway 88]] bridge over the [[Peace River]]. Highway 88 was closed on the afternoon of May 6 until one lane was opened later that day.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2023-05-11 |title=High Level Forest Area Wildfire Update – May 6, 2023 at 8:30 p.m. |url=https://srd.web.alberta.ca/high-level-area-update/may-5-0 |access-date=2023-05-15 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230511060316/https://srd.web.alberta.ca/high-level-area-update/may-5-0 |archive-date=2023-05-11 }}</ref> Twelve firefighters and seven helicopters, heavy equipment and airtankers worked to prevent the fire from spreading further. The fire has since been classified as under control.{{cn|date=September 2023}}

{| class="wikitable"

!Official name

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==== Barrington Lake wildfire ====

[[File:Barrington Lake Fire, Nova Scotia, Canada - 28 May 2023 (52936128956).jpg|thumb|Barrington Lake wildfire]]

A major wildfire started around May 27, 2023, near Barrington Lake in [[Shelburne County, Nova Scotia|Shelburne County]].<ref name=":9">{{cite news |date=June 2, 2023 |title=Barrington Lake blaze in Nova Scotia is the largest wildfire ever recorded in provincial history |work=National Post |url=https://nationalpost.com/news/canada/barrington-lake-blaze-in-nova-scotia-is-the-largest-wildfire-ever-recorded-in-provincial-history |access-date=June 3, 2023 |archive-date=June 30, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230630101146/https://nationalpost.com/news/canada/barrington-lake-blaze-in-nova-scotia-is-the-largest-wildfire-ever-recorded-in-provincial-history |url-status=live }}</ref> The fire has burned around {{convert|23015|ha|acre|0}} and between 30 and 40 structures have beenwere destroyed.<ref name=":10">{{cite news |last=Natural Resources and Renewables |date=June 2, 2023 |title=Update on Wildfires, June 2 (evening) |work=News Release – Nova Scotia |url=https://novascotia.ca/news/release/?id=20230602007 |access-date=June 3, 2023 |archive-date=June 3, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230603033927/https://novascotia.ca/news/release/?id=20230602007 |url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last=Henderson |first=Jennifer |date=May 31, 2023 |title='Please send more water bombers': Volunteer firefighters in Shelburne plead for more help |url=http://www.halifaxexaminer.ca/environment/fires/please-send-more-water-bombers-volunteer-firefighters-in-shelburne-plead-for-more-help/ |access-date=May 31, 2023 |website=Halifax Examiner |archive-date=May 31, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230531200006/https://www.halifaxexaminer.ca/environment/fires/please-send-more-water-bombers-volunteer-firefighters-in-shelburne-plead-for-more-help/ |url-status=live}}</ref> The response to the fire included widespread evacuation orders of the surrounding area, displacing around 5000 people.<ref name=":1" /> This wildfire iswas the largest recorded in the history of Nova Scotia.<ref name=":4" /><ref>{{cite news |last=chisholm |first=Cassidy |date=June 3, 2023 |title=Historic wildfire in Shelburne County remains out of control, says premier |work=CBC News |url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/nova-scotia/crews-attack-shelburne-wildfire-rain-1.6864785 |access-date=June 3, 2023 |archive-date=June 3, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230603150958/https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/nova-scotia/crews-attack-shelburne-wildfire-rain-1.6864785 |url-status=live}}</ref>

Efforts to stop the fire includes the use of American [[water bombers]] and additional firefighters from the U.S. and [[Costa Rica]].<ref name=":4" />

==== Tantallon wildfire ====

A second major wildfire in the [[Tantallon, Nova Scotia|Tantallon]] area was first reported at 3:30&nbsp;pm on May 28, 2023.<ref name=":0" /> It spread rapidly through the Westwood Hills subdivision throughout the evening. The fire burned through {{Convert|950|ha|acre|abbr=}} as of June 2.<ref>{{cite news |last=Natural Resources and Renewables |date=May 29, 2023 |title=Update on Wildfires in Halifax Regional Municipality, Shelburne County |work=News Release – Nova Scotia |url=https://novascotia.ca/news/release/?id=20230529001 |access-date=June 3, 2023 |archive-date=June 3, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230603050914/https://novascotia.ca/news/release/?id=20230529001 |url-status=live}}</ref> [[Halifax, Nova Scotia|Halifax]] mayor [[Michael Savage (politician)|Mike Savage]] described the response to the fire as "unprecedented" in the area.<ref name=":8">{{cite news |last=Logan |first=Cloe |date=May 30, 2023 |title=How climate change is fuelling fires in Eastern Canada |work=National Observer |url=https://www.nationalobserver.com/2023/05/30/news/how-climate-change-fuelling-fires-eastern-canada |access-date=June 3, 2023 |archive-date=May 31, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230531161007/https://www.nationalobserver.com/2023/05/30/news/how-climate-change-fuelling-fires-eastern-canada |url-status=live}}</ref> Approximately 16,400 people were placed under mandatory evacuation orders in the surrounding areas. Preliminary reports stated that approximately 151 houses were destroyed and 50 other structures were damaged or destroyed.<ref>{{cite web |last=Woodford |first=Zane |date=May 30, 2023 |title=Halifax says 'approximately 200 homes or structures' damaged in Tantallon fire |url=http://www.halifaxexaminer.ca/environment/halifax-says-approximately-200-homes-or-structures-damaged-in-tantallon-fire/ |access-date=May 30, 2023 |website=Halifax Examiner |archive-date=May 30, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230530102522/https://www.halifaxexaminer.ca/environment/halifax-says-approximately-200-homes-or-structures-damaged-in-tantallon-fire/ |url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last=Woodford |first=Zane |date=May 30, 2023 |title=Halifax considers shrinking evacuation area, reports 151 homes lost in Tantallon fire |url=http://www.halifaxexaminer.ca/environment/fires/halifax-considers-shrinking-evacuation-area-reports-151-homes-lost-in-tantallon-fire/ |access-date=May 30, 2023 |website=Halifax Examiner |archive-date=May 30, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230530202621/https://www.halifaxexaminer.ca/environment/fires/halifax-considers-shrinking-evacuation-area-reports-151-homes-lost-in-tantallon-fire/ |url-status=live}}</ref> As of June 3 the fire was declared "largely contained" with help from the Canadian military and a heavy rainstorm.<ref>{{cite news |date=June 3, 2023 |title=Officials declare Halifax-area wildfire largely contained as rain brings relief |work=CTV News Atlantic |url=https://atlantic.ctvnews.ca/rain-brings-much-needed-relief-to-firefighters-battling-halifax-area-wildfires-1.6426016 |access-date=June 3, 2023 |archive-date=June 3, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230603195047/https://atlantic.ctvnews.ca/rain-brings-much-needed-relief-to-firefighters-battling-halifax-area-wildfires-1.6426016 |url-status=live}}</ref>

=== Ontario ===

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Smoke from the fires caused air quality in [[Ottawa]], [[Toronto]],<ref>{{cite news |date=June 6, 2023 |title=Raging Quebec forest fires prompt special air quality statement for Toronto |publisher=[[CBC News]] |url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/toronto/raging-quebec-forest-fires-prompt-special-air-quality-statement-for-toronto-1.6866738 |access-date=June 6, 2023 |archive-date=June 30, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230630101227/https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/toronto/special-air-quality-statement-toronto-forest-fire-smoke-1.6866738 |url-status=live}}</ref> as well as most of [[Southern Ontario]] on June 5–7 to hit the highest level on [[Environment Canada]]'s Air Quality Health Index, the worst in the province of Ontario.<ref>{{Cite news |date=June 6, 2023 |title=Air quality risk 'off the charts' in Ottawa because of fire smoke |publisher=[[CBC News]] |url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/ottawa/air-quality-fire-smoke-ottawa-gatineau-1.6865730 |access-date=June 6, 2023 |archive-date=June 30, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230630101150/https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/ottawa/air-quality-fire-smoke-ottawa-gatineau-1.6865730 |url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last=Rocca |first=Ryan |date=June 6, 2023 |title=Air quality statements in effect for large part of Ontario as forest fires rage in Quebec |publisher=[[Global News]] |url=https://globalnews.ca/news/9748674/air-quality-statement-ontario-quebec-wildfires/ |url-status=live |access-date=June 6, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230606141701/https://globalnews.ca/news/9748674/air-quality-statement-ontario-quebec-wildfires/ |archive-date=June 6, 2023}}</ref> Air quality also hit the highest level in [[Kingston, Ontario|Kingston]] and [[Belleville, Ontario]].<ref>{{cite news |date=June 7, 2023 |title=Dangerously bad, smoky air persists in Ottawa area -ca |publisher=[[CBC News]] |url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/ottawa/air-quality-fire-smoke-ottawa-gatineau-1.6865730 |access-date=June 6, 2023 |archive-date=June 30, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230630101150/https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/ottawa/air-quality-fire-smoke-ottawa-gatineau-1.6865730 |url-status=live}}</ref>

Smoke from the fires descended on Ottawa once again on June 25–26, reaching the maximum level by 11 {{nbsp}}am. This forced the city of Ottawa to cancel outdoor programs, races at the [[Ottawa Dragon Boat Festival]] were cancelled, as were activities at the Ottawa Summer Solstice Indigenous Festival.<ref>{{cite news |date=June 25, 2023 |title=Poor air quality across Ottawa Sunday causes many events to be cancelled -ca |publisher=[[CTV News]] |url=https://ottawa.ctvnews.ca/poor-air-quality-across-ottawa-sunday-causes-many-events-to-be-cancelled-1.6454950 |access-date=June 25, 2023 |archive-date=June 25, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230625200400/https://ottawa.ctvnews.ca/poor-air-quality-across-ottawa-sunday-causes-many-events-to-be-cancelled-1.6454950 |url-status=live}}</ref>

On June 28, the air quality in Toronto ranked among the worst in the world and once again reached the highest level on Environment Canada's Air Quality Health Index. This forced a number of city-run outdoor recreation programs to move indoors.<ref>{{cite news |date=June 28, 2023 |title=Air quality in Toronto ranked 6th worst in the world |work=[[CBC News]] |url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/toronto/toronto-air-quality-wildfire-smoke-1.6891013 |access-date=June 28, 2023 |archive-date=June 28, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230628110825/http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/toronto/toronto-air-quality-wildfire-smoke-1.6891013 |url-status=live}}</ref>

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By the evening of August 15, Yellowknife itself began issuing precautionary evacuation alerts to parts of the city, as the wildfire began drawing closer.<ref>{{Cite news |date=Aug 15, 2023 |title=Wildfire threat to Yellowknife 'serious,' parts of city on evacuation alert |work=CBC News |url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/north/nwt-premier-update-wildfires-1.6937511 |url-status=live |access-date=August 16, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230816050152/https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/north/nwt-premier-update-wildfires-1.6937511 |archive-date=August 16, 2023}}</ref> On the same day, Michael St Amour, the mayor of Enterprise, said that between 85–90% of his town was destroyed by the fires.<ref>{{Cite news |date=August 15, 2023 |title=Enterprise, N.W.T., '90 per cent gone' after wildfire ravages community |work=CBC News |publisher=Yahoo! Sports |url=https://ca.sports.yahoo.com/news/enterprise-nwt-90-per-cent-gone-after-wildfire-ravages-community-234851274.html?guccounter=1 |url-status=live |access-date=August 16, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230816050152/https://ca.sports.yahoo.com/news/enterprise-nwt-90-per-cent-gone-after-wildfire-ravages-community-234851274.html?guccounter=1 |archive-date=August 16, 2023}}</ref> On the evening of August 16, evacuation orders were issued for Yellowknife, [[Ndilǫ|N’dilo]], [[Dettah]], and [[Ingraham Trail]], affecting an estimated 22,000 people.<ref name=":19" />

On August 19, 2023, 87% of Yellowknife was evacuated by 6:58 {{nbsp}}am (ET), with only 2,600 of the original 20,000 remaining, 1,000 of which were essential workers.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Graveland |first=Bill |date=August 19, 2023 |title='Most of the people are now gone': Yellowknife nearly emptied as fire fight continues |url=https://www.cp24.com/news/most-of-the-people-are-now-gone-yellowknife-nearly-emptied-as-fire-fight-continues-1.6526012 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230820234348/https://www.cp24.com/news/most-of-the-people-are-now-gone-yellowknife-nearly-emptied-as-fire-fight-continues-1.6526012 |archive-date=August 20, 2023 |access-date=2023-08-19 |website=cp24 |language=en}}</ref> By August 21, 68% of the population of the Northwest Territories had been evacuated.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Carroll |first=Luke |date=August 21, 2023 |title=N.W.T. says it won't offer financial aid to evacuees paying for their own accommodations |url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/north/nwt-wildfire-update-august-21-2023-1.6943142 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230822014730/https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/north/nwt-wildfire-update-august-21-2023-1.6943142 |archive-date=August 22, 2023 |access-date=August 21, 2023 |website=[[CBC News]]}}</ref>

[[Air Canada]] and [[WestJet]] were initially criticized for high prices and unwaived cancellation fees for flights to and from Yellowknife; they had since changed policies to alleviate financial burden for evacuees as of August 17. Both carriers also increased the number of flights to Yellowknife.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Harris |first=Sophia |date=August 17, 2023 |title=WestJet, Air Canada face criticism over Yellowknife flights as wildfires rage |work=CBC.ca |url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/business/westjet-air-canada-wildfire-yellowknife-1.6939525 |url-status=live |access-date=August 17, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230817203713/https://www.cbc.ca/news/business/westjet-air-canada-wildfire-yellowknife-1.6939525 |archive-date=August 17, 2023}}</ref>

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==== Political ====

The wildfires impacted the [[2023 Alberta general election|Alberta general election]] scheduled for May 29, 2023. The [[Alberta New Democratic Party]] announced the party would stop campaigning in the seven ridings hit particularly hard by the fires: [[Drayton Valley-Devon]], [[Lesser Slave Lake (electoral district)|Lesser Slave Lake]], [[Central Peace-Notley]], [[Lac Ste. Anne-Parkland]], [[Fort Saskatchewan-Vegreville]], [[West Yellowhead]], and [[Grande Prairie-Wapiti]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Climenhaga |first=David |date=2023-05-07 |title=Wildfire state of emergency introduces new calculus to Alberta election campaign |url=https://albertapolitics.ca/2023/05/wildfire-state-of-emergency-introduces-new-calculus-to-alberta-election-campaign/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230507061538/https://albertapolitics.ca/2023/05/wildfire-state-of-emergency-introduces-new-calculus-to-alberta-election-campaign/ |archive-date=2023-05-07 |access-date=2023-05-07 |website=Alberta Politics |language=en-CA}}</ref>

== International effects ==

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Scientists from the [[World Resources Institute]] and the [[University of Maryland]] estimated the overall emisiions as 3.28bn tons (2.98 metric tons) more than fossil fuel emissions of [[Greenhouse gas emissions by India|India]]. According to professor Jacob Bendix, “The loss of that much forest is a very big deal, and very worrisome,” “Although the forest will eventually grow back and sequester carbon in doing so, that is a process that will take decades at a minimum, so that there is a quite substantial lag between addition of atmospheric carbon due to wildfire and the eventual removal of at least some of it by the regrowing forest. So, over the course of those decades, the net impact of the fires is a contribution to climate warming.”<ref>{{cite news |title=Canada’s 2023 wildfires created four times more emissions than planes did last year – report |url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/article/2024/jun/27/canada-2023-wildfires-carbon-emissions |access-date=7 July 2024 |agency=The Guardian |publisher=The Associated Press |date=27 June 2024}}</ref>

=== United States ===

[[File:Empire State Building on June 7, 2023.jpg|thumb|The [[Empire State Building]] seen from the ground on June 7, 2023 ]]

==== May ====

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==== June ====

[[File:The Smog 2023.png|thumb|New York City skyline on June 6, 2023 as seen from [[Hoboken]]]]

[[File:Quebec Canada Wildfire Smoke Consumes New Jersey and New York City June 7 2023 - 52959378738.jpg|thumb|The [[Statue of Liberty]] on June 7, 2023 ]]

On June 2, smoke from the Nova Scotia wildfires affected air quality in Washington, D.C., and the states of Maryland, Pennsylvania, and Virginia.<ref name="AP Nova Scotia" /> The smoke from wildfires in Quebec<ref>{{cite news |date=June 6, 2023 |title=Canada wildfires: Tens of millions under air quality warnings as fires burn -GB |publisher=BBC News |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-65828469 |url-status=live |access-date=June 7, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230606234140/https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-65828469 |archive-date=June 6, 2023}}</ref> drifted into the [[Northeastern United States]] on June 5–6 and triggered air quality alerts for most of New York, Connecticut and some of the surrounding states, as well as the [[Midwestern United States|Midwestern]] states of Minnesota, Michigan, and Wisconsin.<ref>{{cite news |last=Chow |first=Denise |date=June 6, 2023 |title=Air quality levels in parts of the U.S. plunge as Canada wildfires rage |publisher=[[NBC News]] |url=https://www.nbcnews.com/science/environment/canada-wildfires-smoke-air-quality-rcna87732 |url-status=live |access-date=June 7, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230606123725/https://www.nbcnews.com/science/environment/canada-wildfires-smoke-air-quality-rcna87732 |archive-date=June 6, 2023}}</ref><ref name="FW Code Red">{{cite news |last=Oberholtz |first=Chris |date=June 6, 2023 |title=New York City in code red 'unhealthy' air quality as Canadian wildfire smoke pours into Northeast |publisher=[[Fox Weather]] |url=https://www.foxweather.com/weather-news/nyc-unhealthy-air-quality-northeast-canada-wildfires |access-date=June 6, 2023 |archive-date=June 30, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230630102826/https://www.foxweather.com/weather-news/nyc-unhealthy-air-quality-northeast-canada-wildfires |url-status=live}}</ref> The smoke on June 6 was estimated by one Stanford researcher to have been the third-worst in the country since 2006.<ref name="NBC NY Air">{{cite news |date=June 7, 2023 |title=Air quality live updates: New York City has the worst air in the world as smoke from Canadian wildfires rolls in |publisher=[[NBC News]] |url=https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/live-blog/unhealthy-air-quality-canada-wildfires-live-updates-rcna88092 |url-status=live |access-date=June 7, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230607181652/https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/live-blog/unhealthy-air-quality-canada-wildfires-live-updates-rcna88092 |archive-date=June 7, 2023}}</ref> On June 6 and 7, [[Photovoltaic power station|solar farms]] in the Northeast and Midwest dropped production by around or more than 50% due to the smoke.<ref>{{Cite news |date=June 8, 2023 |title=Smoke Sends US Northeast Solar Power Plunging by 50% as Wildfires Rage in Canada |publisher=[[Bloomberg News]] |url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2023-06-08/smoke-sends-northeast-solar-power-plunging-by-50-as-wildfires-rage |url-status=live |url-access=limited |access-date=June 12, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230630103348/https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2023-06-08/smoke-sends-northeast-solar-power-plunging-by-50-as-wildfires-rage |archive-date=June 30, 2023}}</ref> By the night of June 6, [[New York City]] had the worst air pollution of any major city in the world; by the morning of June 7 it had fallen to second place, behind [[Delhi]].<ref>{{cite news |date=June 8, 2023 |title=New York City has the worst air quality in the world as smoke from Canadian wildfires rolls in |publisher=[[NBC News]] |url=https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/live-blog/unhealthy-air-quality-canada-wildfires-live-updates-rcna88092 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230921075647/https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/live-blog/unhealthy-air-quality-canada-wildfires-live-updates-rcna88092 |archive-date=September 21, 2023 |quote=The air quality in New York City was the worst in the world Wednesday, according to IQAir.com, a tracking service.}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Yan |first1=Holly |last2=Elamroussi |first2=Aya |last3=Tebor |first3=Celina |last4=Tirrell |first4=Meg |last5=Burnside |first5=Tina |last6=Tucker |first6=Emma |date=June 7, 2023 |title=Intense smoke fills NYC and forces a 'code red' in Philadelphia as millions from the East Coast to Canada suffer from Quebec's wildfires |publisher=CNN |url=https://www.cnn.com/2023/06/07/weather/new-york-air-pollution-canada-wildfires-climate-wednesday/index.html |url-status=live |access-date=June 7, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230607124233/https://www.cnn.com/2023/06/07/weather/new-york-air-pollution-canada-wildfires-climate-wednesday/index.html |archive-date=June 7, 2023}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |date=June 7, 2023 |title=Live updates: Eastern U.S. air quality reaches harmful levels as Canadian wildfires rage |newspaper=[[The Washington Post]] |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/weather/2023/06/07/canada-wildfires-smoke-air-quality-updates/ |url-status=live |access-date=June 7, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230607161349/https://www.washingtonpost.com/weather/2023/06/07/canada-wildfires-smoke-air-quality-updates/ |archive-date=June 7, 2023}}</ref> This also marked the city's worst air quality since the 1960s and also since the [[1966 New York City smog]].<ref name="NYT Worsening Air" />

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=== Europe ===

[[File:Atlanticsmoketransport_tmo_2023177.jpg|thumb|Smoke over Spain and Portugal on June 27, 2023]]

The wildfire smoke also drifted to Europe; as of May 23–25, it was mainly located over [[Scandinavia]].<ref>{{cite tweet |number=1661721791851634693 |user=m_parrington |title=Long-range transport of smoke 1–25 May from North American & Eurasian boreal #wildfires represented by @CopernicusECMWF Atmosphere Monitoring Service @ECMWF organic matter aerosol optical depth analyses assimilating multiple satellite🛰️ observations |first=Mark |last=Parrington |date=May 25, 2023 |access-date=May 26, 2023 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |date=May 26, 2023 |title=Smoke from Canada wildfires reaches Europe |url=https://www.copernicus.eu/en/media/image-day-gallery/smoke-canada-wildfires-reaches-europe |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230607223524/https://www.copernicus.eu/en/media/image-day-gallery/smoke-canada-wildfires-reaches-europe |archive-date=June 7, 2023 |access-date=June 7, 2023 |publisher=[[Copernicus Programme]]}}</ref> On June 8, [[Iceland]] and [[Greenland]] were affected by drifting smoke,<ref name=":28" /> with forecasts suggesting [[Norway]] would also be affected over the next few days.<ref>{{cite news |date=June 8, 2023 |title=Smoke from Canadian wildfires forecast to reach Norway |publisher=[[Associated Press]] |url=https://apnews.com/article/norway-canada-wildfires-smoke-aad296c7b84cc969014614748aaa1046 |url-status=live |access-date=June 8, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230608113843/https://apnews.com/article/norway-canada-wildfires-smoke-aad296c7b84cc969014614748aaa1046 |archive-date=June 8, 2023}}</ref><ref name=":28">{{cite news |last=Taylor |first=Derrick Bryson |date=June 8, 2023 |title=Smoke from the wildfires stretches across the Atlantic to Norway. |work=[[The New York Times]] |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2023/06/08/world/europe/canada-wildfires-smoke-norway.html |url-status=live |url-access=limited |access-date=June 8, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230609011900/https://www.nytimes.com/2023/06/08/world/europe/canada-wildfires-smoke-norway.html |archive-date=June 9, 2023}}</ref> As of June 9, smoke in Europe was not dense enough to have harmful effects on health.<ref>{{cite news |last=Paddison |first=Laura |date=June 9, 2023 |title=Smoke from Canada's wildfires has reached as far as Norway |url=https://www.cnn.com/2023/06/09/europe/canada-wildfires-norway-smoke-climate-intl/index.html |access-date=June 12, 2023 |publisher=[[CNN]] |archive-date=June 11, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230611115413/https://www.cnn.com/2023/06/09/europe/canada-wildfires-norway-smoke-climate-intl/index.html |url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last=Anguiano |first=Dani |date=June 9, 2023 |title=Smoke from Canadian wildfires hits Norway and flows to southern Europe -GB |work=[[The Guardian]] |url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2023/jun/09/canada-wildfire-smoke-norway-southern-europe-health-risk |access-date=June 12, 2023 |archive-date=June 12, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230612003354/https://www.theguardian.com/world/2023/jun/09/canada-wildfire-smoke-norway-southern-europe-health-risk |url-status=live}}</ref>

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===Government strategies for future fires===

The Canadian government has outlined a first line of actions that could help avoid or mitigate wildfires in future seasons:

* Training 300 Indigenous firefighters and 125 Indigenous fire guardians<ref name=":20">{{cite web |last=Canada |first=Natural Resources |date=2023-06-05 |title=The Government of Canada Provides Update on Wildfire Seasonal Outlook and Outlines Response |url=https://www.canada.ca/en/natural-resources-canada/news/2023/06/the-government-of-canada-provides-update-on-wildfire-seasonal-outlook-and-outlines-response.html |access-date=2023-08-17 |website=www.canada.ca |archive-date=August 17, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230817210456/https://www.canada.ca/en/natural-resources-canada/news/2023/06/the-government-of-canada-provides-update-on-wildfire-seasonal-outlook-and-outlines-response.html |url-status=live }}</ref>

* Training firefighters to respond to fires in the wildland-urban interface<ref name=":20" />

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=== Conspiracy theories ===

[[Conspiracy theories]] have beenwere promoted about the cause of the wildfires by [[Climate change denial|climate change deniers]], with [[arson]], [[Pyrotechnics|pyrotechnic]] drones, [[directed-energy weapon]]s and space lasers being among the supposed causes.<ref name=":11">{{cite web |last=Ling |first=Justin |date=June 8, 2023 |title=Denialists Are Blaming Anything but Climate for Canada's Fires |url=https://foreignpolicy.com/2023/06/08/air-quality-canada-wildfire-smog-fire/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.today/20230609074208/https://foreignpolicy.com/2023/06/08/air-quality-canada-wildfire-smog-fire/ |archive-date=9 June 2023 |access-date=July 25, 2023 |website=[[Foreign Policy]]}}</ref><ref name=":13">{{cite web |date=June 9, 2023 |title=Canada wildfires spark 'ecoterrorist' conspiracy theory |url=https://www.france24.com/en/live-news/20230609-canada-wildfires-spark-ecoterrorist-conspiracy-theory |access-date=July 25, 2023 |website=[[France 24]] |agency=[[Agence France-Presse]] |archive-date=July 25, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230725160043/https://www.france24.com/en/live-news/20230609-canada-wildfires-spark-ecoterrorist-conspiracy-theory |url-status=live }}</ref> These conspiracy theories have gonewent viral on social media platforms such as [[TikTok]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Marcus |first=Josh |date=June 18, 2023 |title=TikTok allowed millions of people to see Canadian 'helicopter' wildfire conspiracies |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/climate-change/news/tiktok-canada-wildfire-conspiracy-theory-b2359863.html |access-date=July 25, 2023 |website=[[The Independent]] |archive-date=July 25, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230725160042/https://www.independent.co.uk/climate-change/news/tiktok-canada-wildfire-conspiracy-theory-b2359863.html |url-status=live }}</ref>

In June, conspiracy theorists shared a TikTok video claiming that satellite footage showed the fires started spreading "at the same time" and that they were therefore caused deliberately.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Thalen |first=Mikael |date=June 8, 2023 |title=Meteorologist explains that conspiratorial TikTok claiming Canadian wildfires all started at once |url=https://www.dailydot.com/debug/canada-wildfires-conspiracy-theories/ |access-date=July 25, 2023 |website=[[The Daily Dot]] -US |archive-date=July 25, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230725160044/https://www.dailydot.com/debug/canada-wildfires-conspiracy-theories/ |url-status=live}}</ref><ref name=":12">{{cite web |date=June 15, 2023 |title=Truth or Fake - These satellite images do not prove that Canadian wildfires were caused deliberately |url=https://www.france24.com/en/tv-shows/truth-or-fake/20230615-these-satellite-images-do-not-prove-that-canadian-wildfires-were-deliberately-caused |access-date=July 25, 2023 |website=France 24 |archive-date=July 25, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230725160054/https://www.france24.com/en/tv-shows/truth-or-fake/20230615-these-satellite-images-do-not-prove-that-canadian-wildfires-were-deliberately-caused |url-status=live }}</ref> [[France 24]] noted that the fires started over a period of twelve hours.<ref name=":12" /> Another TikTok video showed a helicopter carrying out [[backburning]] to get the fire under control, falsely claiming that it was the cause of the fires.<ref name=":11" /> Some social media users also falsely suggested that the haze seen over the United States was caused by [[ammonium nitrate]] instead of the wildfires.<ref>{{cite web |last=Roley |first=Gwen |date=June 22, 2023 |title=Canadian wildfire smoke changed sky's color, not chemical release |url=https://factcheck.afp.com/doc.afp.com.33JY44F |access-date=July 25, 2023 |website=[[Agence France-Presse]] |archive-date=July 25, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230725231757/https://factcheck.afp.com/doc.afp.com.33JY44F |url-status=live}}</ref>