Cross Country Checkup

Wildfires in Canada: How is the new reality affecting you?

As blazes throughout Alberta intensify, researchers are warning that Canadians should expect longer — and earlier — wildfire seasons. How are you coping where you live?

Researchers say Canada's wildfire season is getting longer, more intense and starting earlier

The Chuckegg Creek wildfire burns in the High Level Forest Area, to the southwest and west of the town of High Level, Alta. in this photo posted on the Alberta Wildfire Twitter page on Saturday, May 18, 2019. (Government of Alberta/Canadian Press)

As blazes throughout Alberta intensify, researchers are warning that Canadians should expect longer — and earlier — wildfire seasons.

Thousands have evacuated High Level, Alta., where an out-of-control fire — fuelled by dry conditions and wind — has burned 92,000 hectares as of Thursday.

There have been 430 wildfires in Alberta since March 1. British Columbia faced two back-to-back years of record-setting wildfires. According to the Ministry of Natural Resources, Ontario faced the worst wildfire season in a decade last year.

While drier weather, overgrown forests and a lack of controlled burns are leading to more fires across the country, changing weather patterns are sparking them earlier.

Our question this week: Wildfires — How is the new reality affecting you?

With guest host Reshmi Nair