In the news
On 26 July, according to the Canadian Interagency Forest Fire Centre, 948 active wildfires were raging across Canada with 387 being considered out of control. In the Rockies, 25,000 people had to be mass evacuated to the nearest town of Jasper. In the US, Oregon has the largest active wildfire, where one million acres have been burnt.

On 25 July, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau stated: “We’re deploying [Canadian Armed Forces] resources, evacuations support, and more emergency wildfire resources to the province immediately — and we’re coordinating firefighting and airlift assistance. Alberta, we’re with you.” Firefighters from New Zealand, Australia, Mexico, and South Africa were deployed to douse the fires.

The wildfire smoke spread over North America degrading the air quality in Canada and parts of the US. As a result, air quality warnings were issued in Oregon, Colorado, Washington State, Idaho, and Wyoming. 

Issues at large
First, recurring extreme weather events in North America. Canada witnessed its worst wildfire season in 2023 with 38 million acres of burnt land across the country. The wildfires were prominent in 2022 as well. It has become an annual affair. With extreme dry conditions and above-average temperatures, wildfires have been recurring and intensifying in magnitude making them a part of compounded events (events of similar kind recurring for instance heatwaves, wildfires, and droughts leading to one another).

Second, the adverse impacts. The wildfires have caused severe air pollution leading to health impacts. Emissions of pollutants including carbon monoxide, black carbon, and particulates have resulted in high reporting of eye, lung, and nose irritations, and exacerbated lung and throat conditions. Vulnerable populations including children, women, and old adults have an increased risk of asthma and respiratory conditions. 

Third, the link to climate change. Wildfires can be caused by human-induced and natural-induced factors. The fires in Canada are caused by prolonged dry and hot conditions during the summers which can be linked to climate change. It is the cause and effect of such events, that wildfires lead to emissions causing climate change which in turn results in increased wildfires. It’s a vicious cycle. 

In perspective
First, effective management and response. Wildfires induce severe health impacts which can be harmful for the masses and cause cardiovascular diseases. This demands an early warning and an effective response. Wildfires spread fast and are difficult to douse. It requires a prompt response from the state and locals. With such events becoming an annual crisis, states will have to deploy resources and infrastructure to manage and adapt to such events. States like Canada and the US also need to increase their firefighters as they are inadequately available every fire season and international assistance is often required. 

Second, need to ramp up climate action. Mitigation of such events can only be carried out through ramping up climate action. Developed countries are inadequately undertaking climate action and have not met their climate finance commitments which are crucial for the developing and less developed countries to address impacts of climate change.