National Wildland Fire Situation Report

National Wildland Fire Situation Report

Archived reports

Current as of: May 16, 2025

• Data courtesy of the Canadian Interagency Forest Fire Centre (CIFFC).
• Check the Air Quality Health Index for air quality in your area.

Priority fires

Manitoba EA0062 – Wendigo Beach/Lac du Bonnet Fire • This fire is 6km northeast of Lac du Bonnet and is a priority because the area has several residents and properties. • Evacuation orders have been issued for Wendigo Rod and adjoining subdivisions, and for HWY 433 and Cape Coppermine Road • Manitoba Parks has also issued mandatory evacuation orders for park land in the area.

Ontario- Manitoba Border KEN020 • This fire in the community of Ingolf is currently 23,281 hectares in size and Not-Under-Control. • Approximately 900 members of the Wabaseemong community have been evacuated.

Interagency mobilization

Canada is at National Preparedness Level 2, indicating that wildland fire activity is increasing in one or more agencies, but resources within most agencies are adequate and there is little to moderate demand and mobilization of resources occurring through the Canadian Interagency Forest Fire Centre (CIFFC).

Ontario is at Agency Preparedness Level (APL) 4, Alberta and Manitoba are at 3, Saskatchewan, British Columbia, and Parks Canada are at 2, and other agencies are at 1. At APL 4, agencies have very high Fire Danger, anticipate very high fire load in the next week, and require some assistance with resources. At the time of this report, there are personnel and aircraft being mobilized through the CIFFC.

The United States is at preparedness level 2, indicating that wildland fire activity is increasing in a few geographic areas, but resources within most geographic areas are adequate and there is little to moderate mobilization of resources occurring through the National Interagency Coordination Center (NIFC).

The number of fires and area burned to date are average for this time of year.

Weekly Synopsis

In British Columbia, there are Open Fire restrictions in the Cariboo and western portions of the Bulkley-Nechako and Kitimat-Stikine regions.

In Alberta, there are fire bans and restrictions across the province, particularly in the central and southern regions.

In Saskatchewan, fire bans and restrictions are in effect across the central to southern regions of the province, extending from the western border to the eastern edge.

In Manitoba, Level 1 restrictions, which include no fires between 8:00am and 8:00pm, have been in place since May 9, 2025. Outside these hours, fires must be contained in campfire pits.

In Ontario, there is currently one restricted fire zone west of Lena Lake and Wawa Lake. Campfires and open fires are also prohibited in several Provincial Parks.

In Nova Scotia burning is only allowed between 7:00 p.m. and 8:00 a.m. in all regions.

In New Brunswick, burning is permitted between 8:00 p.m. and 8:00 a.m.

Prince Edward Island requires burning permits and burning restrictions are based on the daily Fire Weather Index. Currently, burning is not permitted in all counties.

Newfoundland and Labrador require burning permits, but suspends permits when fire hazard is high, very high or extreme for a region.

Yukon requires burning permits from April 1 to September 30.

Northwest Territories, Quebec currently have no restrictions in place.

An arctic airmass will settle over the middle of the country over the weekend and early next week, bringing dry air and clear skies. High fire Weather Indices are therefore forecasted for eastern Manitoba and northwestern Ontario, but nationwide precipitation throughout the week will likely reduce fire risk by Friday.

Prognosis

Current hot and dry conditions in the southeastern prairies will likely subside in a week as thunderstorms are likely in central Alberta. More than 30mm of rain is forecasted for southeast Saskatchewan to south central Manitoba and 10-20mm is expected for the Manitoba-Ontario border and the Manitoba inter-lake regions. .
The eastern half of the country will also likely feel the effects of multiple weather systems and receive ample moisture to keep Fire Indices low.

Lightning also becomes increasingly likely in the late spring. Much of southern British Columbia and the Prairies Provinces have high Duff Moisture Code values, indicating that these regions may soon have an increase in lightning-caused fires. British Columbia will likely receive regular precipitation this week that may lower their fire risk.

Weekly graphs (current as of: May 16, 2025)