British Columbia’s 2024 wildfire season was one of the worst in recent history, with over 5 million hectares burned — placing it among the top five largest fire years on record. The province faced extreme conditions driven by prolonged drought, heatwaves, and lightning storms, which ignited hundreds of blazes across vulnerable regions like the Cariboo and southeast interior. Smoke from these fires blanketed communities, triggering widespread health alerts and evacuations, with more than 5,000 residents under orders or alerts at peak crisisCBC. The economic toll was staggering, with over $387 million spent on firefighting and emergency response efforts. Beyond the financial cost, the fires devastated ecosystems, disrupted timber supply chains, and underscored the urgent need for proactive wildfire mitigation, community education, and climate resilience strategies

2025

Year of Fires

2.8 Million Acres Burned

The largest area scorched in BC’s recorded history.

$387Million

Spent on wildfire suppression and emergency response.

8,000 Residents

Were evacuated across British Columbia due to wildfire activity.