2023 Canadian wildfires#Northwest Territories

{{see also|Climate change in Canada}}

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.{{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}} 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.{{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}} In Canada, wildfire season usually starts in May.{{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 }} The 2023 fires were compared to the 2016 Fort McMurray wildfire{{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}}{{cite news |last=Chilukuri |first=Siri |date=May 20, 2023 |title=Wildfires have burned nearly 1 million acres in western Canada |work=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}} and the 2021 Lytton wildfire.

The 2023 fire season was mainly driven by anthropogenic climate change, with temperatures in Canada from May to October {{convert|2.2|C-change|0}} higher than the 1991–2020 average.{{cite journal | last=Jain | first=Piyush | last2=Barber | first2=Quinn E. | last3=Taylor | first3=Stephen W. | last4=Whitman | first4=Ellen | last5=Acuna | first5=Castellanos | last6=Boulanger | first6=Yan | last7=D. | first7=l | last8=Chen | first8=Jack | last9=Englefield | first9=Peter | last10=Flannigan | first10=Mike | last11=Girardin | first11=Martin P. | last12=Hanes | first12=Chelene C. | last13=Little | first13=John | last14=Morrison | first14=Kimberly | last15=Skakun | first15=Rob S. | last16=Thompson | first16=Dan K. | last17=Wang | first17=Xianli | title=Drivers and Impacts of the Record-Breaking 2023 Wildfire Season in Canada | journal=Nature Communications | publisher=Nature Publishing Group | volume=15 | issue=1 | date=2024-08-20 | issn=2041-1723 | doi=10.1038/s41467-024-51154-7 | pages=1–14 | url=https://www.nature.com/articles/s41467-024-51154-7 | access-date=2024-08-21 | display-authors=1| pmc=11335882 }} Warmer and drier weather contributed to drought and desiccated vegetation, making it more flammable.{{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}}{{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}}{{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}} In Western Canada, a drought from 2022 persisted and, along with low winter snowpack, led to dried out soil; in contrast, Nova Scotia and Quebec saw normal soil moisture levels but high temperatures and rapid drying caused a flash drought. Climate change made fire weather twice as likely and 20% more intense in Quebec according to estimates from World Weather Attribution,{{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 }} and made the unusually long nationwide fire season five times more likely.{{cite journal | last=Kirchmeier-Young | first=Megan C. | last2=Malinina | first2=Elizaveta | last3=Barber | first3=Quinn E. | last4=Garcia Perdomo | first4=Karen | last5=Curasi | first5=Salvatore R. | last6=Liang | first6=Yongxiao | last7=Jain | first7=Piyush | last8=Gillett | first8=Nathan P. | last9=Parisien | first9=Marc-André | last10=Cannon | first10=Alex J. | last11=Lima | first11=Aranildo R. | last12=Arora | first12=Vivek K. | last13=Boulanger | first13=Yan | last14=Melton | first14=Joe R. | last15=Van Vliet | first15=Laura | last16=Zhang | first16=Xuebin | title=Human driven climate change increased the likelihood of the 2023 record area burned in Canada | journal=npj Climate and Atmospheric Science | publisher=Springer Science and Business Media LLC | volume=7 | issue=1 | date=2024-12-20 | issn=2397-3722 | doi=10.1038/s41612-024-00841-9 | doi-access=free | url=https://www.nature.com/articles/s41612-024-00841-9.pdf | access-date=2024-12-23 | display-authors=1}}

Roughly half of all wildfires in Canada are caused by 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.{{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 }}{{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}} In terms of wildfire acreage, lightning-caused fires account for about 85% of land burned.{{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}}{{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}} Lightning-caused fires often happen in clusters in remote locations.{{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}} The other half of wildfires in Canada are human-caused, often unintentionally sparked{{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 }}{{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 }} by things such as discarded cigarette butts, abandoned smouldering campfires,{{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 }} sparks from braking trains, off road vehicles, and land clearing activities. While false claims of arson gained traction on social media, arson is generally a minor cause of wildfires in Canada.{{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}}{{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}}

Forest management is also a factor in the wildfires. Because Canada's forest management has focused on fire suppression, dry vegetation has accumulated on the forest floor.{{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}} Canada has generally stopped performing controlled burns, which help reduce the risk of larger and more dangerous fires.{{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 }}{{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}} It is difficult to get permission for controlled burns, especially for Indigenous groups who have historically performed them and are disproportionately affected by wildfires.{{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 }} Canada lacks a national firefighting service, and local resources are stretched thin due to budget cuts.{{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}}

Wind from a passing cold front during the week of May 18 exacerbated the fire risk, as did a concurrent heat wave in the west.{{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 }}{{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 }} Canadian Minister of Public Safety 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."{{cite news |title=Canada facing 'deeply concerning' wildfire season: Official |publisher=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}}

File:1983- Canada wildfires - area burned annually.svg concluded that the June–September 2023 Canadian wildfires caused carbon emissions that exceeded annual fossil fuel emissions of all nations except India, China and the US.{{cite journal |last1=Byrne |first1=Brendan |last2=Liu |first2=Junjie |last3=Bowman |first3=Kevin W. |last4=Pascolini-Campbell |first4=Madeleine |last5=Chatterjee |first5=Abhishek |last6=Pandey |first6=Sudhanshu |last7=Miyazaki |first7=Kazuyuki |last8=van der Werf |first8=Guido R. |last9=Wunch |first9=Debra |last10=Wennberg |first10=Paul O. |last11=Roehl |first11=Coleen M. |last12=Sinha |first12=Saptarshi |display-authors=4 |title=Carbon emissions from the 2023 Canadian wildfires |journal=Nature |doi=10.1038/s41586-024-07878-z|doi-access=free |pmc=11424480 }}]]

File:Massive fires in Alberta, Canada (Lat- 58 513, Lng- -119 234) - 15 May 2023 (52902618772).jpg

In May, Alberta was the province most impacted by wildfires.{{cite news |date=May 21, 2023 |title=Smoke from Canada wildfires prompts air quality alerts in Colorado, Montana |publisher=Associated Press |url=https://apnews.com/article/colorado-montana-wildfire-smoke-canada-alberta-4730658aeebc0529132f04a94a60747f |url-status=live |access-date=June 7, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230602223324/https://apnews.com/article/colorado-montana-wildfire-smoke-canada-alberta-4730658aeebc0529132f04a94a60747f |archive-date=June 2, 2023}} Most large wildfires in Alberta in 2023 were triggered by lightning. On May 6, the province of Alberta declared a provincial state of emergency.{{cite news |date=May 7, 2023 |title=Canada's Alberta announces state of emergency over wildfires |publisher=Al Jazeera |url=https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2023/5/7/canadas-alberta-announces-state-of-emergency-over-wildfires |url-status=live |access-date=May 7, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230507150746/https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2023/5/7/canadas-alberta-announces-state-of-emergency-over-wildfires |archive-date=May 7, 2023}}{{cite news |last=Meilleur |first=Destiny |date=May 6, 2023 |title=Alberta declares state of emergency |publisher=Global News |url=https://globalnews.ca/news/9679627/alberta-premier-adresses-wildfire-state-of-emergency/ |url-status=live |access-date=May 6, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230506214842/https://globalnews.ca/news/9679627/alberta-premier-adresses-wildfire-state-of-emergency/ |archive-date=May 6, 2023}} By May 7, 108 active fires were burning in the province.{{cite news |date=May 7, 2023 |title=Out-of-control wildfires cause evacuations in western Canada |publisher=Associated Press |url=https://apnews.com/article/canada-wildfires-alberta-british-columbia-de8f14beff8c90cd2d43cab032a64535 |url-status=live |access-date=June 7, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230520053320/https://apnews.com/article/canada-wildfires-alberta-british-columbia-de8f14beff8c90cd2d43cab032a64535 |archive-date=May 20, 2023}} The provincial state of emergency ended on June 3.{{cite news |last=Tran |first=Paula |date=June 3, 2023 |title=Alberta wildfires: Provincial state of emergency ends |publisher=Global News |url=https://globalnews.ca/news/9744113/alberta-wildfire-provincial-state-of-emergency-ending-saturday/ |url-status=live |access-date=June 8, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230605131947/https://globalnews.ca/news/9744113/alberta-wildfire-provincial-state-of-emergency-ending-saturday/ |archive-date=June 5, 2023}} At the end of the fire season, the province recorded 1088 fires totalling {{convert|2222900|ha|acre|0}} burned.{{Cite web |date=December 2023 |title=2023 Alberta Wildfire’s seasonal statistics |url=https://open.alberta.ca/dataset/db7cdfde-7ccd-4419-989f-09f8bb28da22/resource/181322ca-63c0-4a09-8a08-1d53e8c2c26b/download/fp-alberta-wildfire-seasonal-statistics-2023.pdf |website=Alberta Wildfire, Government of Alberta}}

Two fires that were out of control in the High Level Forest Area were active on 15 May.

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}}. 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-kilometre 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.{{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 }} They deployed 83 firefighters, four helicopters and other heavy equipment by May 15.{{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}}

HWF-030, named the Paskwa Fire, was another out-of-control fire that spread eastward due to extreme conditions. It reached an active burning area of {{convert|35285|ha|acre|0}}. It was within the community of Fox Lake, and was 13 kilometres from the community of Garden River. The fire remained south of the Peace River. The extreme weather conditions made it hard for firefighters and aircraft to assist the fire. 76 firefighters and 13 helicopters were 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. Over 100 structures were destroyed in Fox Lake as of May 11.

HWF-042 was under control at {{convert|181|ha|acre|0}} on May 6. It was {{convert|1|km|mi|0}} north of the 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.{{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 }} Twelve firefighters and seven helicopters, heavy equipment and airtankers worked to prevent the fire from spreading further.{{citation needed|date=September 2023}}

File:West Kiskatinaw River Wildfire, British Columbia, Canada - 7 June 2023 (52961618238).jpg wildfire in British Columbia (June 2023)]]

British Columbia saw an unusual lack of rain in May and early June, leading to increased wildfire conditions in the province.{{cite news |last=Little |first=Simon |date=June 2, 2023 |title=1 wildfire in northeast B.C. has burned nearly twice as much land as entire 2022 season |publisher=Global News |url=https://globalnews.ca/news/9743231/bc-wildfire-update-june-2/ |url-status=live |access-date=June 7, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230604080610/https://globalnews.ca/news/9743231/bc-wildfire-update-june-2/ |archive-date=June 4, 2023}} In British Columbia, 72% of wildfires in 2023 were triggered by natural causes, while the remainder were due to human activity.{{cite web |title=Wildfire Season Summary |url=https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/safety/wildfire-status/about-bcws/wildfire-history/wildfire-season-summary |archive-url= |archive-date= |access-date=January 19, 2024 |website=Government of British Columbia }} In a study of British Columbia's 2017 fire season, researchers found that human-caused climate change had a strong influence on the amount of area burned.{{cite journal |last1=Kirchmeier-Young |first1=M. C. |last2=Gillett |first2=N. P. |last3=Zwiers |first3=F. W. |last4=Cannon |first4=A. J. |last5=Anslow |first5=F. S. |date=December 13, 2018 |title=Attribution of the Influence of Human-Induced Climate Change on an Extreme Fire Season |journal=Earth's Future |volume=7 |issue=1 |pages=2–10 |doi=10.1029/2018EF001050 |issn=2328-4277 |pmc=9285568 |pmid=35860503}} The final tally of wildfires in British Columbia for 2023 was 2293 fires and {{Convert|2,840,104|ha|acre}} burned.{{Cite web |last= |first= |title=Wildfire Averages - Province of British Columbia |url=https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/safety/wildfire-status/about-bcws/wildfire-statistics/wildfire-averages |access-date=2025-04-25 |website=www2.gov.bc.ca |publisher=BC Wildfire Service, Province of British Columbia}}

In early June, the province saw multiple wildfires in or near Peachland and on Vancouver Island near both Port Alberni and Sayward.{{cite news |date=June 5, 2023 |title=Donnie Creek wildfire is now 2nd largest recorded in B.C.'s history |publisher=CBC News |url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/donnie-creek-wildfire-largest-recorded-bc-history-1.6866122 |access-date=June 7, 2023 |archive-date=June 30, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230630100139/https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/donnie-creek-wildfire-largest-recorded-bc-history-1.6866122 |url-status=live}} As of June 2, there were 54 active fires in the region. Officials estimated about half of the province's wildfires were caused by human action. In the west of Vancouver Island, highway access to the towns of Port Alberni, Tofino, and Ucluelet was cut off for more than two weeks due to the Cameron Bluffs wildfire.{{cite press release |last=Infrastructure |first=Transportation and |date=June 23, 2023 |title=Highway 4 reopens for travellers |url=https://news.gov.bc.ca/releases/2023MOTI0087-001015 |access-date=June 24, 2023 |publisher=British Columbia |archive-date=June 24, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230624000125/https://news.gov.bc.ca/releases/2023MOTI0087-001015 |url-status=live}}

File:Donnie Creek fire ESA24921348.jpg

In northeastern British Columbia, the Donnie Creek wildfire became the single largest wildfire in BC history. It attained this status on June 18. By June 24, the fire was burning over an area of greater than 5,648 square kilometres (2,180 square miles).{{cite news |last=Kulkarni |first=Akshay |date=June 6, 2023 |title=Compare the size of the Donnie Creek wildfire to other historic blazes and major North American cities |publisher=CBC News |url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/bc-wildfire-wrap-jun-6-1.6866693 |url-status=live |access-date=June 7, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230606164913/https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/bc-wildfire-wrap-jun-6-1.6866693 |archive-date=June 6, 2023}}{{cite news |date=June 21, 2023 |title=B.C.'s largest recorded wildfire could burn until winter, officials say |publisher=CBC News |agency=The Canadian Press |url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/bc-donnie-creek-wildfire-winter-1.6883580 |url-status=live |access-date=June 24, 2023 |archive-date=June 25, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230625104032/https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/bc-donnie-creek-wildfire-winter-1.6883580}}{{cite web |title=BC Wildfire Service |url=https://wildfiresituation.nrs.gov.bc.ca/incidents?fireYear=2023&incidentNumber=G80280 |access-date=June 24, 2023 |website=wildfiresituation.nrs.gov.bc.ca |archive-date=June 22, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230622035358/https://wildfiresituation.nrs.gov.bc.ca/incidents?fireYear=2023&incidentNumber=G80280 |url-status=live }}

There were 377 active wildfires in British Columbia as of July 15, including 20 that were classified as "highly visible, threatening or potentially damaging 'wildfires of note'".{{cite web |url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/wildfires-rising-in-bc-july-15-1.6908093 |title=Archived copy |access-date=July 16, 2023 |archive-date=July 16, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230716023446/https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/wildfires-rising-in-bc-july-15-1.6908093 |url-status=live}} Unruly blazes destroyed properties and closed parts of the Trans-Canada highway .{{cite news |date=2023-08-20 |title=As fires rage in British Columbia, more residents prepare for evacuations |language=en |work=Reuters |url=https://www.reuters.com/world/americas/fires-rage-british-columbia-more-residents-prepare-evacuations-2023-08-20/ |access-date= |archive-date=August 20, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230820164636/https://www.reuters.com/world/americas/fires-rage-british-columbia-more-residents-prepare-evacuations-2023-08-20/ |url-status=live }}

August saw several very destructive wildfires in the southern Interior region. Two fires, the Bush Creek East wildfire in the Shuswap area, and the McDougall Creek wildfire, south of Kelowna, caused heavy damage to structures and forced major evacuations. The two fires, which burned concurrently, caused 730 million CAD in insured damages, ranking as the most costly extreme weather event in the province's history.{{Cite news |last=Lindsay |first=Bethany |date=January 9, 2024 |title=2023 wildfires were B.C.'s costliest insured event ever at $720M in losses, report says |url=https://www.cbc.ca/lite/story/1.7078021 |work=CBC News}}

Between July and October 21, much of BC had seen less than a quarter of usual rainfall, with Vancouver at 10% and Victoria recording only 2 millimetres of rain instead of its normal average of 132 mm. As of October 21, there were still 202 active wildfires.{{Cite web|url=https://bc.ctvnews.ca/b-c-drought-by-the-numbers-vancouver-victoria-saw-less-than-10-of-average-rainfall-since-july-1.6119658|title=B.C. drought by the numbers: Vancouver, Victoria saw less than 10% of average rainfall since July|date=October 21, 2022|website=British Columbia}}

As of June 6, there had been 70 fires in Manitoba, below the province's average number for that point in the season.{{cite news |last=Hirschfield |first=Kevin |date=June 6, 2023 |title=Four fires now out of control in Manitoba as province continues to monitor wildfire situation |publisher=Global News |url=https://globalnews.ca/news/9751254/four-fires-now-out-of-control-in-manitoba-as-province-continues-to-monitor-wildfire-situation/ |access-date=June 8, 2023 |archive-date=June 30, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230630100636/https://globalnews.ca/news/9751254/four-fires-now-out-of-control-in-manitoba-as-province-continues-to-monitor-wildfire-situation/ |url-status=live }} Compared to past years, human caused fires were less frequent, with lightning causing the majority. As of May 27, there were six active wildfires in the province, including a fire near Cross Lake First Nation and Pimicikamak Cree Nation.{{Cite news |last=Dawkins |first=Glen |title=Wildfire danger prompts travel restrictions in southeastern Manitoba |work=Winnipeg Sun |url=https://winnipegsun.com/news/provincial/wildfire-danger-prompts-travel-restrictions-in-southeastern-manitoba |url-status=live |access-date=June 8, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230528032614/https://winnipegsun.com/news/provincial/wildfire-danger-prompts-travel-restrictions-in-southeastern-manitoba |archive-date=May 28, 2023}} On June 2, Manitoba only had three wildfires active in the province.{{Cite news |last=Thompson |first=Sam |date=June 5, 2023 |title=Wildfires ramp up in Manitoba after weekend lightning strikes - Winnipeg |publisher=CJOB |url=https://globalnews.ca/news/9746950/wildfires-ramp-manitoba-weekend-lightning-strikes/ |access-date=June 8, 2023 |archive-date=June 30, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230630100729/https://globalnews.ca/news/9746950/wildfires-ramp-manitoba-weekend-lightning-strikes/ |url-status=live }} Lightning over June 3 and 4 raised the total fire count to 12 by June 5, and to 14 by June 6. Of those, four were considered out of control. On June 6, officials were focused on monitoring and containing fires near Little Grand Rapids, Pauingassi First Nation, and St. Theresa Point First Nation.

New Brunswick had experienced 177 wildfires as of June 7, with four still active, including fires in West Branch, Alnwick Parish, and Valley Road in Kars.{{cite news |title=Canada is burning. A look at the wildfires blazing across the nation |url=https://globalnews.ca/news/9751667/canada-wildfires-outlook/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230608015738/https://globalnews.ca/news/9751667/canada-wildfires-outlook/ |archive-date=June 8, 2023 |access-date=June 8, 2023 |publisher=Global News}} A fire near Saint Andrews, which had started on May 28, was brought under control on June 5.{{Cite news |last=MacKinnon |first=Bobbi-Jean |date=June 5, 2023 |title=Saint Andrews-area forest fire under control, N.B. burn ban lifted |publisher=CBC News |url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/new-brunswick/forest-fire-under-control-saint-andrews-burn-ban-bocabec-chamcook-1.6866107 |access-date=June 7, 2023 |archive-date=June 30, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230630100656/https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/new-brunswick/forest-fire-under-control-saint-andrews-burn-ban-bocabec-chamcook-1.6866107 |url-status=live }}

Newfoundland and Labrador saw 34 wildfires before May 1, far outpacing the 2022 season, which saw only 2 fires in that same period.{{Cite news |date=May 19, 2023 |title=It's a wild year for wildfires already in parts of Newfoundland |publisher=CBC News |url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/newfoundland-labrador/wildfires-nl-1.6846769 |url-status=live |access-date=June 8, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230519145808/http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/newfoundland-labrador/wildfires-nl-1.6846769 |archive-date=May 19, 2023}}{{Cite news |date=May 2, 2023 |title=Dozens of wildfires reported amid dry conditions in Newfoundland and Labrador |work=SaltWire |url=https://www.saltwire.com/atlantic-canada/news/dozens-of-wildfires-reported-amid-dry-conditions-in-newfoundland-and-labrador-100849334/ |url-status=live |access-date=June 8, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230520070402/https://www.saltwire.com/atlantic-canada/news/dozens-of-wildfires-reported-amid-dry-conditions-in-newfoundland-and-labrador-100849334/ |archive-date=May 20, 2023}} This was attributed to dry conditions. Between May 1 and 19, 19 other fires were recorded. Wet conditions in early June created a low fire risk for Newfoundland, allowing water bombers from Newfoundland to be deployed to assist with firefighting efforts in Labrador, Nova Scotia and Quebec.{{Cite news |date=June 6, 2023 |title=You might hate it, but Newfoundland's wet start to summer is a dream for forest firefighters |publisher=CBC News |url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/newfoundland-labrador/nl-fire-season-1.6866754 |access-date=June 8, 2023 |archive-date=June 30, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230630100641/https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/newfoundland-labrador/nl-fire-season-1.6866754 |url-status=live }}

On June 8, there were 72 active wildfires in the province.

File:Enterprise after 2023 wildfires (2).jpg

File:Yellowknife oli 2023228 text.jpg, Northwest Territories (August 2023)]]

On June 7, there were eleven active wildfires in the Northwest Territories. At that point, there had been 21 total fires, affecting {{convert|403,815|ha|acre|abbr=out}}. By August 15, there were over 230 wildfires throughout the territory.{{cite news |date=August 15, 2023 |title=Wildfire now 20km from Yellowknife, risk 'has risen' over last day |work=CBC News |url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/north/wildfire-yellowknife-risk-aug-15-1.6937043 |access-date=August 16, 2023 |archive-date=August 16, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230816035752/https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/north/wildfire-yellowknife-risk-aug-15-1.6937043 |url-status=live }} By August 17, they were within {{convert|17|km|mi|0|abbr=on}} of the capital city, Yellowknife, leading to an evacuation order.{{cite web |date=August 16, 2023 |title=Yellowknife to begin evacuation tonight as wildfires approach |url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/north/nwt-wildfire-emergency-update-august-16-1.6938756 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230817010618/https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/north/nwt-wildfire-emergency-update-august-16-1.6938756 |archive-date=August 17, 2023 |access-date=August 16, 2023 |website=CBC News}} The wildfires caused telecommunication and internet signals to be cut off throughout the South Slave Region, which led to concerns about the feasibility of a safe evacuation.{{cite news |last=Smith |first=Alanna |date=August 15, 2023 |title=Hay River's mayor says time running out to evacuate as Northwest Territories wildfires block highway |work=The Globe and Mail |url=https://www.theglobeandmail.com/canada/alberta/article-hay-rivers-mayor-says-time-running-out-to-evacuate-as-northwest/ |access-date=August 16, 2023 |archive-date=August 16, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230816050146/https://www.theglobeandmail.com/canada/alberta/article-hay-rivers-mayor-says-time-running-out-to-evacuate-as-northwest/ |url-status=live}}{{cite news |date=August 15, 2023 |title='Raining ashes': N.W.T. evacuees recall flight, long drives as wildfires continue |work=Edmonton Journal |url=https://edmontonjournal.com/news/national/armed-forces-members-mobilize-in-northwest-territories-to-help-battle-wildfires |access-date=August 16, 2023 |archive-date=August 16, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230816070021/https://edmontonjournal.com/news/national/armed-forces-members-mobilize-in-northwest-territories-to-help-battle-wildfires |url-status=live}}

By August 23, wildfires in the territory had produced 97 megatonnes of carbon, accounting for roughly a fourth of the total 327 megatonnes produced by Canada's wildfires in 2023.

File:Barrington Lake Fire with massive smoke plume, Nova Scotia, Canada - 29 May 2023 (52939602490).jpg

Nova Scotia saw the largest recorded wildfires in its history.{{cite news |date=June 1, 2023 |title=Nova Scotia wildfires grow, prompt air quality warnings as far south as Virginia |publisher=Associated Press |url=https://apnews.com/article/canada-wildfires-halifax-firefighters-us-south-africa-20f340036282d892aaa5528f1e48e618 |url-status=live |access-date=June 7, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230604031337/https://apnews.com/article/canada-wildfires-halifax-firefighters-us-south-africa-20f340036282d892aaa5528f1e48e618 |archive-date=June 4, 2023}} On average, in Nova Scotia, only about 3% of wildfires are caused by lightning, with the remaining being caused by human activity.{{cite web |title=Media Guide to Forest Fires - Fire Information |url=https://novascotia.ca/natr/forestprotection/wildfire/media-guide/fire-info.asp |access-date=June 15, 2023 |publisher=Government of Nova Scotia |archive-date=June 21, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230621012242/https://novascotia.ca/natr/forestprotection/wildfire/media-guide/fire-info.asp |url-status=live}} Of those caused by human activity, about a third of Nova Scotia's fires are caused by people on or near their own property, and about a quarter are caused by arson. On June 1, there were four out-of-control fires in the province.

The fires that started in the Tantallon area were caused by a resident who was burning debris in their yard. The resident was warned by the fire department, but continued to burn debris until it got out of control.

The fires that started in the Shelburne area were caused by three residents who were lighting tires on fire and rolling them down a hill. Once word of their actions got out they fled the province for their safety.

As of January 18, 2024 charges have been laid in relation to the Shelburne wildfire.

In suburban Halifax, an estimated 200 structures were destroyed by fire. By June 1, the Halifax fire was 50% contained, but was not considered under control. At the time, no missing people or injuries from the Halifax fire were reported. By June 4, the Halifax fire was 100% contained.{{Cite news |last=Bailey |first=Mitchell |date=June 4, 2023 |title='Under control': Wildfire in the Halifax area 100% contained, officials say |publisher=Global News |url=https://globalnews.ca/news/9744716/ns-wildfires-tantallon-hammonds-plains-shelburne-june-4/ |url-status=live |access-date=June 8, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230607024249/https://globalnews.ca/news/9744716/ns-wildfires-tantallon-hammonds-plains-shelburne-june-4/ |archive-date=June 7, 2023}} The Barrington Lake fire in Shelburne County, which started May 27, covered {{convert|230|km2|sqmi|abbr=out}} at its largest. On June 7, officials announced it was successfully contained.{{Cite news |last=MacDonald |first=Michael |date=June 7, 2023 |title=Huge wildfire in southwestern Nova Scotia 'being held' after burning for 11 days |publisher=Global News |agency=The Canadian Press |url=https://globalnews.ca/news/9752159/shelburne-county-ns-wildfire-being-held/ |access-date=June 8, 2023 |archive-date=June 30, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230630101212/https://globalnews.ca/news/9752159/shelburne-county-ns-wildfire-being-held/ |url-status=live }} As of June 7, the fire had destroyed 60 residences and 150 other structures.

File:Barrington Lake Fire, Nova Scotia, Canada - 28 May 2023 (52936128956).jpg

A major wildfire started around May 27 near Barrington Lake in Shelburne County.{{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 }} The fire burned around {{convert|23015|ha|acre|0}} and between 30 and 40 structures were destroyed.{{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}}{{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}} The response to the fire included widespread evacuation orders of the surrounding area, displacing around 5000 people. This wildfire was the largest recorded in the history of Nova Scotia.{{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}}

Efforts to stop the fire includes the use of American water bombers and additional firefighters from the U.S. and Costa Rica.

A second major wildfire in the Tantallon area was first reported at 3:30 pm on May 28. It spread rapidly through the Westwood Hills subdivision throughout the evening. The fire burned through {{Convert|950|ha|acre|abbr=}} as of June 2.{{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}} Halifax mayor Mike Savage described the response to the fire as "unprecedented" in the area.{{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}} 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.{{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}}{{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}} As of June 3 the fire was declared "largely contained" with help from the Canadian military and a heavy rainstorm.{{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}}

File:2023 toronto smoke comparison.webp

Smoke from the fires caused air quality in Ottawa, Toronto,{{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}} 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.{{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}}{{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}} Air quality also hit the highest level in Kingston and Belleville, Ontario.{{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}}

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.{{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}}

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.{{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}}

File:Vieux-Port de Québec - Fumée 2023.jpg in Quebec City covered in wildfire smoke (25 June 2023)]]

Quebec has been particularly hard hit during the 2023 wildfire season, with more frequent wildfires than in the past, and fewer resources and experience with which to fight them.{{Cite news |last=Onishi |first=Norimitsu |date=June 8, 2023 |title='How Could This Happen?': Canadian Fires Burning Where They Rarely Have Before |work=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2023/06/08/world/canada/quebec-canada-wildfires-locations.html |url-status=live |url-access=limited |access-date=June 9, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230609005035/https://www.nytimes.com/2023/06/08/world/canada/quebec-canada-wildfires-locations.html |archive-date=June 9, 2023}} It has seen the most area burned of any province with {{convert|5.2|e6ha|e6acre|abbr=unit}}.{{Cite web |title=Weather that drove eastern Canada's devastating wildfires made twice as likely by climate change |url=https://www.cnn.com/2023/08/22/americas/canada-wildfires-climate-change-quebec/index.html |website=CNN |date=August 22, 2023 |access-date=August 22, 2023 |archive-date=August 22, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230822200433/https://www.cnn.com/2023/08/22/americas/canada-wildfires-climate-change-quebec/index.html |url-status=live }} As of June 10, the province had reported 446 fires, compared to the average of 212 for the same date.{{cite news |last=Hubbard |first=Halisia |date=June 10, 2023 |title=Rain may soon help put out flames in Canada's worst recorded wildfire season |publisher=NPR |url=https://www.npr.org/2023/06/10/1181525347/canada-wildfires-rain-forecast-worst-ever |url-status=live |access-date=June 12, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230611150018/https://www.npr.org/2023/06/10/1181525347/canada-wildfires-rain-forecast-worst-ever |archive-date=June 11, 2023}}

On June 8, 137 fires were active in Quebec and 54 in Ontario.{{cite web |date=June 8, 2023 |title=Smoke From Canadian Wildfires Blankets U.S. |url=https://www.nesdis.noaa.gov/news/smoke-canadian-wildfires-blankets-us |access-date=June 8, 2023 |publisher=National Environmental Satellite, Data, and Information Service |archive-date=June 30, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230630102323/https://www.nesdis.noaa.gov/news/smoke-canadian-wildfires-blankets-us |url-status=live}}

On the afternoon of June 25, Montreal had the worst air quality in the world due to wildfire smoke in the region; several cultural and sporting events were cancelled or postponed in response.{{cite news |date=June 25, 2023 |title=Poor air quality in Montreal from Quebec wildfires forces event cancellations |publisher=CBC News |url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/montreal/montreal-air-quality-forest-fires-smog-1.6888062 |access-date=June 28, 2023 |archive-date=June 29, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230629190318/https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/montreal/montreal-air-quality-forest-fires-smog-1.6888062 |url-status=live}}

File:Fire in Saskatchewan, Canada (Lat- 56 379, Lng- -107 972) - 12 June 2023 (52972103588).jpg

Like other regions, Saskatchewan had a dry spring, leading to increased risk for wildfires.{{cite news |last=Peterson |first=Julia |date=May 23, 2023 |title=Sask. wildfires remain 'extremely aggressive' |url=https://thestarphoenix.com/news/local-news/sask-wildfires-remain-extremely-aggressive |access-date=June 10, 2023 |work=Saskatoon StarPhoenix |archive-date=May 24, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230524064227/http://thestarphoenix.com/news/local-news/sask-wildfires-remain-extremely-aggressive |url-status=live}} By May 25, the province had seen 187 fires; the five-year average for that point in the season is 111. Firefighting crews struggled due to heavy smoke, which made it difficult both for crews to travel and to monitor the fires.{{cite news |last=Lynn |first=Josh |date=May 23, 2023 |title=Smoke continues to hamper fight against 'extremely aggressive' Sask. wildfires |url=https://www.ctvnews.ca/smoke-continues-to-hamper-fight-against-extremely-aggressive-sask-wildfires-1.6410063 |access-date=June 10, 2023 |publisher=CTV News |archive-date=June 13, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230613205717/https://www.ctvnews.ca/smoke-continues-to-hamper-fight-against-extremely-aggressive-sask-wildfires-1.6410063 |url-status=live}}

Some communities, although not directly in the path of any fires, lost power due to fires in the region, particularly from May 14 to 17.{{cite news |date=May 18, 2023 |title=Northern Saskatchewan residents continue to flee homes due to wildfires |publisher=CBC News |url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/saskatchewan/northern-saskatchewan-residents-continue-to-flee-homes-due-to-wildfires-1.6847804 |access-date=June 9, 2023 |archive-date=June 10, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230610022451/https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/saskatchewan/northern-saskatchewan-residents-continue-to-flee-homes-due-to-wildfires-1.6847804 |url-status=live}}{{cite news |title=Sask. wildfires: Money coming for residents hit by power outages; long weekend caution advised |last=Benson |first=Andrew |date=May 19, 2023 |url=https://globalnews.ca/news/9712147/sask-wildfire-power-outages-funds-long-weekend-safety/ |access-date=June 10, 2023 |publisher=Global News |archive-date=June 10, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230610022452/https://globalnews.ca/news/9712147/sask-wildfire-power-outages-funds-long-weekend-safety/ |url-status=live}}

Estimates of the number of displaced vary. The Internal Displacement Monitoring Centre estimated that 185,000 people were displaced, representing 43% of worldwide wildfire-related displacements for 2023. Forty-three thousand of those were in Alberta, and 59,000 were in British Columbia. The State of Wildfires report estimated that 232,000 were evacuated.

Multiple settlements were placed under evacuation orders, resulting in over 29,000 Albertans being evacuated by May 7.{{cite news |last1=Salahieh |first1=Nouran |last2=Burnside |first2=Tina |last3=Simonson |first3=Amy |date=May 8, 2023 |title=More than 29,000 people are evacuated from communities throughout Alberta as wildfires rage in Canada |publisher=CNN |url=https://www.cnn.com/2023/05/08/weather/alberta-canada-wildfires-monday/index.html |url-status=live |access-date=May 8, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230508120802/https://www.cnn.com/2023/05/08/weather/alberta-canada-wildfires-monday/index.html |archive-date=May 8, 2023}} On May 11, at least 300 members of the Canadian Armed Forces were sent to different parts of Alberta to help.{{cite news |last=Mertz |first=Emily |date=May 11, 2023 |title=Alberta wildfires: Where and how are Canadian Armed Forces deployed? |publisher=Global News |url=https://globalnews.ca/news/9690879/alberta-wildfires-where-how-canadian-armed-forces-deployed/ |url-status=live |access-date=May 13, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230512192131/https://globalnews.ca/news/9690879/alberta-wildfires-where-how-canadian-armed-forces-deployed/ |archive-date=May 12, 2023}}

Evacuation orders were issued for multiple communities throughout the province. On April 29, mandatory evacuation orders were issued for the towns of Evansburg and Entwistle, due to two wildfires in their vicinity.{{cite news |title=Communities surrounding Edmonton under evacuation orders as area grass fires grow |work=Edmonton Journal |url=https://edmontonjournal.com/news/local-news/high-winds-fuel-large-grass-fire-near-entwistle-alberta-evacuation-order-issued |url-status=live |access-date=May 6, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230430165013/https://edmontonjournal.com/news/local-news/high-winds-fuel-large-grass-fire-near-entwistle-alberta-evacuation-order-issued |archive-date=April 30, 2023}} The evacuation order was lifted on May 3, only for it to be reinstated on May 4, due to the fires increasing in size.{{cite news |date=May 5, 2023 |title=Entwistle residents flee twice in once week, more Parkland County residents evacuated Friday |publisher=CTV News |url=https://www.ctvnews.ca/entwistle-residents-flee-twice-in-once-week-more-parkland-county-residents-evacuated-friday-1.6386791 |url-status=live |access-date=May 7, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230609144429/https://www.ctvnews.ca/entwistle-residents-flee-twice-in-once-week-more-parkland-county-residents-evacuated-friday-1.6386791 |archive-date=June 9, 2023}}

The community of Fox Lake, on the Fox Lake 162 reserve, was issued an evacuation order May 3, with all residents being evacuated by May 5. As of May 11, the local police station, general store, and at least 100 homes had been destroyed by fire.{{cite news |date=May 5, 2023 |title=Fox Lake evacuees settling in High Level area as wildfire remains out of control |publisher=CTV News |url=https://www.ctvnews.ca/fox-lake-evacuees-settling-in-high-level-area-as-wildfire-remains-out-of-control-1.6386560 |url-status=live |access-date=May 6, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230609144309/https://www.ctvnews.ca/fox-lake-evacuees-settling-in-high-level-area-as-wildfire-remains-out-of-control-1.6386560 |archive-date=June 9, 2023}} The town of Drayton Valley, approximately {{cvt|133|km|mi}} southwest of Edmonton, was issued an evacuation order on May 4. The local fire department reported that one structure had been lost.{{Cite news |title=Drayton Valley residents flee central Alberta town amid wildfire evacuation order |publisher=Global News |url=https://globalnews.ca/news/9672424/brazeau-county-drayton-valley-wildfire-may-3/ |url-status=live |access-date=May 6, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230506022812/https://globalnews.ca/news/9672424/brazeau-county-drayton-valley-wildfire-may-3/ |archive-date=May 6, 2023}}

On May 5, the hamlet of Nordegg and the Big Horn 144A reserve were issued an evacuation order due to nearby wildfires.{{cite news |last=McIntosh |first=Sean |date=May 5, 2023 |title=Evacuation alert issued for Nordegg, Bighorn area due to wildfire |work=Red Deer Advocate |url=https://www.reddeeradvocate.com/news/evacuation-alert-issued-for-nordegg-bighorn-area-due-to-wildfire/ |url-status=live |access-date=May 6, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230506023435/https://www.reddeeradvocate.com/news/evacuation-alert-issued-for-nordegg-bighorn-area-due-to-wildfire/ |archive-date=May 6, 2023}} Also on May 5, evacuation orders were issued for the town of Edson due to multiple nearby wildfires.{{cite news |date=May 5, 2023 |title=Damage details, length of evacuation order unknown in Yellowhead County |publisher=CTV News |url=https://www.ctvnews.ca/damage-details-length-of-evacuation-order-unknown-in-yellowhead-county-1.6386813 |url-status=live |access-date=May 6, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230609144159/https://www.ctvnews.ca/damage-details-length-of-evacuation-order-unknown-in-yellowhead-county-1.6386813 |archive-date=June 9, 2023}} On May 6, the town of Fox Creek and the hamlet of Little Smoky were issued an evacuation order.{{cite web |last=Fisher |first=Erica |date=May 6, 2023 |title=UPDATE: Fox Creek evacuation order expanded to include Little Smoky, surrounding areas |url=https://www.mygrandeprairienow.com/107609/news/fox-creek-area-told-to-prepare-for-possible-evacuation/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230506070953/https://www.mygrandeprairienow.com/107609/news/fox-creek-area-told-to-prepare-for-possible-evacuation/ |archive-date=May 6, 2023 |access-date=May 7, 2023 |website=My Grande Prairie Now}}

On May 13, the community of Chateh issued an evacuation order due to the Long Lake Fire (HWF-036) making a {{convert|25|km|mi|0|abbr=on}} run toward the community.{{cite news |date=May 14, 2023 |title="Residents of Chateh, Alta., flee their homes again as fire encroaches" |page=1 |publisher=CBC News |url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/edmonton/edmonton-alberta-wildfire-climate-1.6843356 |url-status=live |access-date=May 14, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230515025929/http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/edmonton/edmonton-alberta-wildfire-climate-1.6843356 |archive-date=May 15, 2023}} On May 14, the community of Chipewyan Lake was issued an evacuation order due to an out-of-control wildfire starting north of the community.

Residents of Rainbow Lake were allowed to return on June 2.

More than 3,000 Albertans remained under evacuation orders as of June 8.{{cite news |last1=Williams |first1=Nia |last2=Shakil |first2=Ismail |date=June 8, 2023 |title=International help rolls in to fight unyielding Canadian wildfires |publisher=Reuters |url=https://www.reuters.com/world/americas/wildfires-burn-across-canada-with-little-relief-sight-2023-06-08/ |url-status=live |access-date=June 8, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230630100135/https://www.reuters.com/world/americas/wildfires-burn-across-canada-with-little-relief-sight-2023-06-08/ |archive-date=June 30, 2023}} On June 9, residents of Edson and Yellowhead County were asked to evacuate.

In early May, some British Columbia residents evacuated their homes due to out-of-control wildfires there. Around May 22, residents were evacuated from near Tzenzaicut Lake, which is about {{convert|600|km|mi|0|abbr=on}} north of Vancouver.{{cite news |date=May 22, 2023 |title=Rain, even smoke help fight wildfires in Alberta; new blaze brings evacuation in British Columbia |publisher=Associated Press |url=https://apnews.com/article/canada-alberta-british-columbia-wildfires-3a988b45616aed324d265f25d164c299 |url-status=live |access-date=June 7, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230529010707/https://apnews.com/article/canada-alberta-british-columbia-wildfires-3a988b45616aed324d265f25d164c299 |archive-date=May 29, 2023}} In early June, officials recommended that British Columbians be prepared to evacuate if need be.{{Cite news |last=Daflos |first=Penny |date=June 5, 2023 |title='When, not if': British Columbians warned to prepare for wildfire evacuations |publisher=CTV News |url=https://www.ctvnews.ca/when-not-if-british-columbians-warned-to-prepare-for-wildfire-evacuations-1.6428744 |url-status=live |access-date=June 7, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230630100136/https://www.ctvnews.ca/when-not-if-british-columbians-warned-to-prepare-for-wildfire-evacuations-1.6428744 |archive-date=June 30, 2023}} On June 7, the community of One Island Lake was evacuated.{{Cite news |last=Kulkarni |first=Akshay |date=June 6, 2023 |title=Campfire bans coming for much of B.C. as wildfire shuts down Vancouver Island highway |publisher=CBC News |url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/port-alberni-vancouver-island-fire-1.6867830 |url-status=live |access-date=June 7, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230608141756/https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/port-alberni-vancouver-island-fire-1.6867830 |archive-date=June 8, 2023}} On June 8, the community of Tumbler Ridge was evacuated.{{Cite news |date=June 8, 2023 |title=More than 2,000 ordered to evacuate from B.C.'s Tumbler Ridge in UNESCO Global Geopark due to nearby wildfire |publisher=CBC News |url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/tumbler-ridge-evacuation-order-1.6870478 |url-status=live |access-date=June 9, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230630100142/https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/tumbler-ridge-evacuation-order-1.6870478 |archive-date=June 30, 2023}} As of July 15, there were nearly 70 evacuation orders across the province.

In August, premier David Eby declared a state of emergency as the city of West Kelowna was evacuated when the McDougall Creek wildfire grew to cover 6,800 hectares.{{citation |author=Jaroslav Lukiv |title=Canada wildfires: British Columbia province declares emergency |date=19 August 2023 |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-66551480 |access-date=August 19, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230819083146/https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-66551480 |url-status=live |publisher=BBC News |archive-date=August 19, 2023}} The campus of UBC Okanagan and some nearby suburbs were placed under evacuation order.{{Cite web |title=UBCO under evacuation order due to aggressive fire behaviour {{!}} Globalnews.ca |url=https://globalnews.ca/news/9905908/ubco-evacuation-order-kelowna-bc-wildfires/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230819220046/https://globalnews.ca/news/9905908/ubco-evacuation-order-kelowna-bc-wildfires/ |archive-date=August 19, 2023 |access-date=2023-08-19 |website=Global News |language=en-US}} Overall, at least 35,000 people were under evacuation order and another 30,000 under evacuation alert, as of August 19. By the end of the season, a total of 208 evacuation orders had caused over 48,000 people to leave their homes.{{Cite journal|last=Daniels |first=Lori D. |last2=Dickson-Hoyle |first2=Sarah |last3=Baron |first3=Jennifer N. |last4=Copes-Gerbitz |first4=Kelsey |last5=Flannigan |first5=Mike D. |last6=Castellanos-Acuna |first6=Dante |last7=Hoffman |first7=Kira M. |last8=Bourbonnais |first8=Mathieu |last9=Wilkinson |first9=Sophie L. |last10=Roeser |first10=Dominik |last11=Harvey |first11=Jill E. |last12=Laflamme |first12=Jocelyne |last13=Tiribelli |first13=Florencia |last14=Whitehead |first14=James |last15=Leverkus |first15=Sonja E.R. |date=January 2025 |title=The 2023 wildfires in British Columbia, Canada: impacts, drivers, and transformations to coexist with wildfire |url=https://cdnsciencepub.com/doi/10.1139/cjfr-2024-0092 |journal=Canadian Journal of Forest Research |volume=55 |pages=1–18 |doi=10.1139/cjfr-2024-0092 |issn=0045-5067}}

Approximately 7,000 members of the Pimicikamak Cree Nation were evacuated on May 24; most residents were able to return by May 26.{{Cite news |last=Bernhardt |first=Darren |date=May 25, 2023 |title=Some residents already returning after raging wildfire forces 7,000 people to flee Pimicikamak Cree Nation |publisher=CBC News |url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/manitoba/pimicikamak-cree-nation-wildfire-manitoba-1.6854124 |url-status=live |access-date=June 8, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230530070031/https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/manitoba/pimicikamak-cree-nation-wildfire-manitoba-1.6854124 |archive-date=May 30, 2023}}{{Cite news |last=Houde |first=Colleen |date=May 26, 2023 |title=Most residents of northern Manitoba community return home after wildfire forces evacuation |publisher=CHVN-FM |url=https://www.chvnradio.com/articles/most-residents-of-northern-manitoba-community-return-home-after-wildfire-forces-evacuation |url-status=live |access-date=June 8, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230526140903/https://www.chvnradio.com/articles/most-residents-of-northern-manitoba-community-return-home-after-wildfire-forces-evacuation |archive-date=May 26, 2023}}

The Katl'odeeche First Nation (Hay River Reserve) and the residents of Hay River were evacuated on May 14. The 3,000 residents of Hay River were allowed to return on May 24, while the 300 members of the K'at'lodeeche First Nation were not able to return until June 7.{{Cite news |date=June 7, 2023 |title=K'atl'odeeche First Nation residents in N.W.T. allowed to return to reserve |work=Coast Reporter |url=https://www.coastreporter.net/national-news/katlodeeche-first-nation-residents-in-nwt-allowed-to-return-to-reserve-7110088 |url-status=live |access-date=June 8, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230630100647/https://www.coastreporter.net/national-news/katlodeeche-first-nation-residents-in-nwt-allowed-to-return-to-reserve-7110088 |archive-date=June 30, 2023}} On May 31, the residents of Sambaa K'e were evacuated to Fort Simpson.{{Cite news |last=Lamberink |first=Lily |date=May 31, 2023 |title=Evacuation order issued for wildfire-threatened Sambaa K'e, N.W.T. |publisher=CBC News |url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/north/sambaa-k-e-fire-evacuation-1.6860816 |url-status=live |access-date=June 7, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230603093541/https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/north/sambaa-k-e-fire-evacuation-1.6860816 |archive-date=June 3, 2023}}

On August 14, authorities in the Northwest Territories declared a state of emergency and issued another evacuation order to communities throughout the Dehcho, South Slave, and North Slave Regions, including those in Behchokǫ̀, Enterprise, Fort Smith, Hay River, Kakisa, the Kátł'odeeche First Nation and Jean Marie River.{{cite news |last=Smith |first=Alanna |date=August 14, 2023 |title=Northwest Territories issues new evacuation warnings after unprecedented wildfires |work=The Globe and Mail |url=https://www.theglobeandmail.com/canada/alberta/article-northwest-territories-issues-new-wildfire-evacuation-warnings/ |url-status=live |access-date=August 16, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230816035753/https://www.theglobeandmail.com/canada/alberta/article-northwest-territories-issues-new-wildfire-evacuation-warnings/ |archive-date=August 16, 2023}}{{cite news |last=Ziafati |first=Noushin |date=August 14, 2023 |title=Evacuation orders for parts of Northwest Territories; residents airlifted away from threat of wildfires |work=CTV News |url=https://www.ctvnews.ca/canada/evacuation-orders-for-parts-of-northwest-territories-residents-airlifted-away-from-threat-of-wildfires-1.6518611 |url-status=live |access-date=August 16, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230816010705/https://www.ctvnews.ca/canada/evacuation-orders-for-parts-of-northwest-territories-residents-airlifted-away-from-threat-of-wildfires-1.6518611 |archive-date=August 16, 2023}} Hundreds of people were airlifted out of the wildfire zone with the assistance of the Canadian Armed Forces.{{cite news |date=August 15, 2023 |title=Canadian military mobilizes to help fight wildfires in Northwest Territories |work=Associated Press |url=https://apnews.com/article/canada-wildfires-yellowknife-emergency-northwest-territories-bb909389825bebe2db636cea2256fc10 |url-status=live |access-date=August 16, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230816035753/https://apnews.com/article/canada-wildfires-yellowknife-emergency-northwest-territories-bb909389825bebe2db636cea2256fc10 |archive-date=August 16, 2023}} Stanton Territorial Hospital ramped down its health services and began sending some of its patients to St. Albert, Alberta.{{Cite news |last=Blake |first=Emily |date=August 15, 2023 |title=Hospital services reduced, some patients moved as precaution |work=Cabin Radio |url=https://cabinradio.ca/141738/news/yellowknife/hospital-services-reduced-some-patients-moved-as-precaution/ |url-status=live |access-date=August 16, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230816035753/https://cabinradio.ca/141738/news/yellowknife/hospital-services-reduced-some-patients-moved-as-precaution/ |archive-date=August 16, 2023}}{{Cite news |last=Henderson |first=Jennifer |date=August 15, 2023 |title=BREAKING: Northwest Territories fire evacuees being sent to St. Albert |work=St. Albert Gazette |url=https://www.stalbertgazette.com/local-news/breaking-northwest-territories-fire-evacuees-being-sent-to-st-albert-7411757 |url-status=live |access-date=August 16, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230816035752/https://www.stalbertgazette.com/local-news/breaking-northwest-territories-fire-evacuees-being-sent-to-st-albert-7411757 |archive-date=August 16, 2023}}

File:Enterprise oli 2023228 text.jpg and Hay River (August 2023)]]

By the evening of August 15, Yellowknife itself began issuing precautionary evacuation alerts to parts of the city, as the wildfire began drawing closer.{{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}} On the same day, Michael St Amour, the mayor of Enterprise, said that between 85–90% of his town was destroyed by the fires.{{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}} On the evening of August 16, evacuation orders were issued for Yellowknife, N’dilo, Dettah, and Ingraham Trail, affecting an estimated 22,000 people.

On August 19, 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.{{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}} By August 21, 68% of the population of the Northwest Territories had been evacuated.{{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}}

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.{{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}}

The evacuation order for Yellowknife, Dettah and N’dilo was rescinded September 6, and people began to return to Yellowknife later that day.{{cite web |date=6 September 2023 |title=Evacuation order lifted for Yellowknife after three weeks of wildfire danger |url=https://www.theglobeandmail.com/canada/article-thousands-begin-journey-home-as-yellowknife-evacuation-order-scheduled/ |access-date=9 September 2023 |publisher=The Globe and Mail}} An estimated 1,000 people had been flown home by September 8.{{cite web |date=7 September 2023 |title=Thousands of residents return to Yellowknife, but many still out in other communities |url=https://www.thestar.com/news/canada/thousands-of-residents-return-to-yellowknife-but-many-still-out-in-other-communities/article_aacb7bb7-7793-52b0-bb15-9d8786a2c0a5.html |access-date=9 September 2023 |publisher=Toronto Star}}

In late May, the communities of Hammonds Plains, Pockwock, and Upper Tantallon were put under evacuation orders.{{cite web |last=Williams |first=Ollie |date=May 29, 2023 |title=Nova Scotia, facing its own fires, recalls 20 people sent to help NWT |url=https://cabinradio.ca/131024/news/environment/wildfires/nova-scotia-facing-its-own-fires-recalls-20-people-sent-to-help-nwt/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230601122548/https://cabinradio.ca/131024/news/environment/wildfires/nova-scotia-facing-its-own-fires-recalls-20-people-sent-to-help-nwt/ |archive-date=June 1, 2023 |access-date=June 8, 2023 |website=cabinradio.ca -US}} 16,000 residents were evacuated from Halifax. The Halifax Regional Municipality opened several centres for evacuees. On June 2, some residents were permitted to briefly return to their homes to survey damage. Due to safety risks, none were allowed to return permanently.{{cite news |date=June 2, 2023 |title=Halifax residents board buses to view homes destroyed by wildfires |publisher=Associated Press |url=https://apnews.com/article/wildfires-canada-halifax-rain-nova-scotia-e2050ed8c7e34fd69e0a98c7bcc533cb |url-status=live |access-date=June 7, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230604031335/https://apnews.com/article/wildfires-canada-halifax-rain-nova-scotia-e2050ed8c7e34fd69e0a98c7bcc533cb |archive-date=June 4, 2023}}{{cite news |last=Petracek |first=Heidi |date=June 7, 2023 |title='This is not helping': Frustrated evacuees say official communication lacking in wildfire recovery |publisher=CTV News |url=https://www.ctvnews.ca/this-is-not-helping-frustrated-evacuees-say-official-communication-lacking-in-wildfire-recovery-1.6432051 |url-status=live |access-date=June 8, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230609144135/https://www.ctvnews.ca/this-is-not-helping-frustrated-evacuees-say-official-communication-lacking-in-wildfire-recovery-1.6432051 |archive-date=June 9, 2023}} This was a source of frustration for evacuees, along with what some residents deemed to be "communication failures" from the provincial government.

Residents near Shelburne were evacuated on May 31; the total number of evacuees from Shelburne County numbered about 5,000. Several local farmers also evacuated their animals to the county's exhibition grounds. Nova Scotia provided free camping at several locations for people displaced by the fire in Shelburne.{{cite news |title=NS Wild Fire Resources & Updates |work=Dalhousie Student Union |url=https://www.dsu.ca/fire-evacuation |url-status=live |access-date=June 13, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230613070841/https://www.dsu.ca/fire-evacuation |archive-date=June 13, 2023}}

File:Chibougamau, dans la fumée des feux de forêts 2023.jpg, Quebec, clouded in smoke from the Nord-du-Québec wildfires (June 2023)]]

File:Canada Wildfire Season Sets Alarming Record.jpgAs of June 4, 14,000 residents had been evacuated from their homes in Quebec.{{Cite news |last=Morris |first=Erika |date=June 4, 2023 |title=Quebec fire authorities say they're unable to bring all fires under control |publisher=CBC News |url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/montreal/quebec-fires-burning-out-of-control-1.6865147 |url-status=live |access-date=June 6, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230604235822/https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/montreal/quebec-fires-burning-out-of-control-1.6865147 |archive-date=June 4, 2023}} On June 6, 7,500 residents were evacuated from Chibougamau, the largest town in Northern Quebec. On June 7, the nearby Cree Nation of Mistissini was asked to evacuate, and the Cree Nation of Waswanipi began evacuating of their own accord.{{cite news |last1=Yanez-Leyton |first1=Cassandra |last2=Watts |first2=Rachel |date=June 7, 2023 |title=Fire evacuees flee northern Quebec communities to safety of Saguenay |publisher=CBC News |url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/montreal/fire-evacuees-flee-northern-quebec-communities-to-safety-of-saguenay-1.6868016 |url-status=live |access-date=June 7, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230630102328/https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/montreal/fire-evacuees-flee-northern-quebec-communities-to-safety-of-saguenay-1.6868016 |archive-date=June 30, 2023}}

On June 6, Quebec's Public Security Ministry announced a large evacuation alert for the province, prompting towns such as Chapais to immediately evacuate citizens.{{Cite news |date=June 3, 2023 |title=Municipalities across Quebec on alert as wildfires rage across province |publisher=CBC News |url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/montreal/lebel-sur-quevillon-evacuation-wildfires-1.6864795 |url-status=live |access-date=June 7, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230605031452/https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/montreal/lebel-sur-quevillon-evacuation-wildfires-1.6864795 |archive-date=June 5, 2023}} The mayor of Lebel-sur-Quévillon, where about 2,100 people (or the entire city's population) were forced from their homes, stated that the fires were as close as {{convert|10|km|abbr=on}} from the city.{{cite news |date=June 7, 2023 |title=Dozens of wildfires in Canada remain out of control |work=The Post-Standard |agency=Associated Press |url=https://www.syracuse.com/us-news/2023/06/quebec-orders-more-evacuations-as-dozens-of-wildfires-in-canada-remain-out-of-control.html |url-status=live |access-date=June 7, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230630102325/https://www.syracuse.com/us-news/2023/06/quebec-orders-more-evacuations-as-dozens-of-wildfires-in-canada-remain-out-of-control.html |archive-date=June 30, 2023}}

On June 23, more than 300 residents were evacuated from Val-Paradis, Beaucanton and Lac Pajegasque; they were permitted to return on June 25. On June 23 the Cree community of Mistissini asked residents to evacuate for the second time that month.{{cite news |date=June 23, 2023 |title=Cree community in Quebec orders evacuation due to heavy smoke |work=The Globe and Mail |url=https://www.theglobeandmail.com/canada/article-northern-city-in-quebec-and-cree-community-ordered-to-evacuate/ |url-status=live |access-date=June 28, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230625045705/https://www.theglobeandmail.com/canada/article-northern-city-in-quebec-and-cree-community-ordered-to-evacuate/ |archive-date=June 25, 2023}} The Atikamekw of Opitciwan were allowed to return on June 26.

On May 15, 535 residents of Buffalo Narrows evacuated. Other evacuated communities included the Buffalo River Dene Nation, the English River First Nation, the Lac La Ronge Indian Band, and the Canoe Lake First Nation.

By May 18, the Saskatchewan Public Safety Agency (SPSA) was supporting around 1,000 evacuees from effected regions of the province, who were temporarily housed in Lloydminster, North Battleford, and Regina. Support provided included food, clothing, housing, and other required services. The number of evacuees at the time was higher than 1,000, as the SPSA was not supporting individuals who evacuated of their own accord or who made separate housing plans.

Many residents in Deschambault Lake evacuated in mid-May. Evacuees from Île-à-la-Crosse and Buffalo Narrows received assistance from the University of Regina.

In mid-May, oil companies in Alberta, British Columbia, and Saskatchewan curbed production as a precautionary measure in parts of the provinces; this in turn drove up the price of oil.{{cite news |last=Newburger |first=Emma |date=May 17, 2023 |title=Wildfires burn millions of acres in Canada, send oil prices higher |publisher=CNBC |url=https://www.cnbc.com/2023/05/17/wildfires-burn-millions-of-acres-in-canada-send-oil-prices-higher.html |url-status=live |access-date=June 10, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230610021038/https://www.cnbc.com/2023/05/17/wildfires-burn-millions-of-acres-in-canada-send-oil-prices-higher.html |archive-date=June 10, 2023}} The cost of drought and wildfires in Alberta totaled $2.9 billion.

Many businesses were affected by evacuations, road closures, and travel advisories from countries warning residents not to travel to Canada.{{cite news | last=Lompe | first=Hope | title=Fires of 2023 burn holes in tourism operator pockets | publisher=Castanet | date=2024-08-19 | url=https://www.castanet.net/news/BC/502163/Fires-of-2023-burn-holes-in-tourism-operator-pockets | access-date=2024-08-20}} A report from Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada (ISED) noted that British Columbia was hit especially hard, with tourist destinations such as Tofino suffered from collapsing hotel occupancy rates, and that by September 2023 the fires had cost Canada over $3 billion. The effects continued into 2024 as travellers became reluctant to book trips in advance in case of fires.

The wildfires impacted the Alberta general election scheduled for May 29. 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, Central Peace-Notley, Lac Ste. Anne-Parkland, Fort Saskatchewan-Vegreville, West Yellowhead, and Grande Prairie-Wapiti.{{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}}

File:Air quality 2023 canadian wildfires.png levels exceeded safe limits.]]

Pollution due to a global increase in wildfires has created widespread, long-term impacts on human health.{{cite journal |last1=Gao |first1=Yuan |last2=Huang |first2=Wenzhong |last3=Yu |first3=Pei |last4=Xu |first4=Rongbin |last5=Yang |first5=Zhengyu |last6=Gasevic |first6=Danijela |last7=Ye |first7=Tingting |last8=Guo |first8=Yuming |last9=Li |first9=Shanshan |date=March 2023 |title=Long-term impacts of non-occupational wildfire exposure on human health: A systematic review |journal=Environmental Pollution |volume=320 |page=121041 |doi=10.1016/j.envpol.2023.121041 |pmid=36639044 |bibcode=2023EPoll.32021041G |s2cid=255695901}} Due to wildfire emissions, Canada broke its record for annual carbon emissions in late June.{{cite news |last1=Bennett |first1=Paige |title=Wildfire Emissions in Canada for First Half of 2023 Are Already Worse Than Any Full Year on Record |url=https://www.ecowatch.com/canada-wildfire-emissions-record-2023.html |access-date=June 29, 2023 |agency=Ecowatch |date=June 28, 2023 |archive-date=June 29, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230629154255/https://www.ecowatch.com/canada-wildfire-emissions-record-2023.html |url-status=live}} As of late August, the wildfires had released 327–355 megatonnes of carbon into the atmosphere.{{Cite news |last=Lamberink |first=Liny |date=August 28, 2023 |title=N.W.T. fires have released 97 megatonnes of carbon, says European agency — 277 times what its people emit |work=CBC News |url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/north/nwt-fire-emissions-2023-1.6948761 |access-date=August 31, 2023 |archive-date=August 31, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230831054349/https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/north/nwt-fire-emissions-2023-1.6948761 |url-status=live }}{{cite web |last1=Freedman |first1=Andrew |title=Canada's wildfire emissions skyrocket as fires spread |url=https://www.axios.com/2023/08/23/canada-wildfires-carbon-emissions |access-date=11 October 2023 |website=Axios |publisher=Copernicus Atmospheric Monitoring Service}} The emissions from the fires were more than double Canada's planned emissions reductions from 2020–2030.{{cite journal | last=Wang | first=Zhe | last2=Wang | first2=Zifa | last3=Zou | first3=Zhiyin | last4=Chen | first4=Xueshun | last5=Wu | first5=Huangjian | last6=Wang | first6=Wending | last7=Su | first7=Hang | last8=Li | first8=Fang | last9=Xu | first9=Wenru | last10=Liu | first10=Zhihua | last11=Zhu | first11=Jiaojun | title=Severe Global Environmental Issues Caused by Canada’s Record-Breaking Wildfires in 2023 | journal=Advances in Atmospheric Sciences | date=2023-11-17 | issn=0256-1530 | doi=10.1007/s00376-023-3241-0 | display-authors=1}} According to Merritt Turetsky, a carbon cycle scientist, this is a "vicious cycle" as warming is associated with drier vegetation, drier vegetation ignites more rapidly, greenhouse gases are released, and greenhouse gases "wind up in the atmosphere, [causing] more warming".

Scientists from the World Resources Institute and the University of Maryland estimated the overall emissions as 3.28bn tons (2.98 metric tons) more than fossil fuel emissions of 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.”{{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}} The fires represented over a quarter of global tree loss in 2023,{{cite journal | last=MacCarthy | first=James | last2=Tyukavina | first2=Alexandra | last3=Weisse | first3=Mikaela J | last4=Harris | first4=Nancy | last5=Glen | first5=Erin | title=Extreme wildfires in Canada and their contribution to global loss in tree cover and carbon emissions in 2023 | journal=Global Change Biology | volume=30 | issue=6 | date=2024 | issn=1354-1013 | doi=10.1111/gcb.17392 | page=}} and the Copernicus Atmosphere Monitoring Service estimated that they produced 23% of global wildfire carbon emissions in 2023.{{cite web | title= Canada produced 23% of the global wildfire carbon emissions for 2023 | website=Copernicus | date=2023-12-12 | url=https://atmosphere.copernicus.eu/copernicus-canada-produced-23-global-wildfire-carbon-emissions-2023 | access-date=2024-08-02}}

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

The fires had severe impacts throughout the United States. Air quality dropped to hazardous levels, leading to school closures and cancellations of public events. Reduced visibility led to flight delays and cancellations and reductions in speed limits on roads. Multiple cities were temporarily recorded as having the worst air quality in the world. During May and June, much of the Upper Midwest experienced the highest ozone levels ever recorded at a regional scale.{{cite journal | last=Cooper | first=Owen R. | last2=Chang | first2=Kai‐Lan | last3=Bates | first3=Kelvin | last4=Brown | first4=Steven S. | last5=Chace | first5=Wyndom S. | last6=Coggon | first6=Matthew M. | last7=Gorchov Negron | first7=Alan M. | last8=Middlebrook | first8=Ann M. | last9=Peischl | first9=Jeff | last10=Piasecki | first10=Alison | last11=Schafer | first11=Nell | last12=Stockwell | first12=Chelsea E. | last13=Wang | first13=Siyuan | last14=Warneke | first14=Carsten | last15=Zuraski | first15=Kristen | last16=Miyazaki | first16=Kazuyuki | last17=Payne | first17=Vivienne H. | last18=Pennington | first18=Elyse A. | last19=Worden | first19=John R. | last20=Bowman | first20=Kevin W. | last21=McDonald | first21=Brian C. | title=Early Season 2023 Wildfires Generated Record‐Breaking Surface Ozone Anomalies Across the U.S. Upper Midwest | journal=Geophysical Research Letters | volume=51 | issue=22 | date=2024 | issn=0094-8276 | doi=10.1029/2024GL111481 | display-authors=2| doi-access=free }} In Maryland, there was a spike in cardiopulmonary medical events during the days with the worst air pollution (June 6–8 and 28-30).{{cite journal | last=Maldarelli | first=Mary E. | last2=Song | first2=Hyeonjin | last3=Brown | first3=Clayton H. | last4=Situt | first4=Madhurika | last5=Reilly | first5=Colleen | last6=Mahurkar | first6=Anup A. | last7=Felix | first7=Victor | last8=Crabtree | first8=Jonathan | last9=Ellicott | first9=Evan | last10=Jurczak | first10=Martha O. | last11=Pant | first11=Binod | last12=Gumel | first12=Abba | last13=Zafari | first13=Zafar | last14=D’Souza | first14=Warren | last15=Sapkota | first15=Amir | last16=Maron | first16=Bradley A. | title=Polluted Air from Canadian Wildfires and Cardiopulmonary Disease in the Eastern US | journal=JAMA Network Open | publisher=American Medical Association | volume=7 | issue=12 | date=2024-12-13 | issn=2574-3805 | doi=10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2024.50759 | doi-access=free | page=e2450759 | display-authors=3| pmc=11645649 }}

In May, the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency issued several alerts for poor air quality due to smoke from Alberta and Saskatchewan fires{{cite news |date=May 18, 2023 |title=Smoke from wildfires extends unhealthy air quality alert into May 19 for Minnesota |work=Brainerd Dispatch |url=https://www.brainerddispatch.com/weather/smoke-from-wildfires-extends-unhealthy-air-quality-alert-into-may-19-for-minnesota |url-status=live |access-date=June 7, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230524042648/https://www.brainerddispatch.com/weather/smoke-from-wildfires-extends-unhealthy-air-quality-alert-into-may-19-for-minnesota |archive-date=May 24, 2023}}{{cite web |title=May 18, 2023 "Smoke Front" |url=https://www.dnr.state.mn.us/climate/journal/smoke-outbreak-may-18-2023.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230607212339/https://www.dnr.state.mn.us/climate/journal/smoke-outbreak-may-18-2023.html |archive-date=June 7, 2023 |access-date=June 7, 2023 |publisher=Minnesota Department of Natural Resources }} and ground-level ozone.{{cite news |last=Harlow |first=Tim |date=May 23, 2023 |title=Air quality alert in effect for southern Minnesota, Twin Cities |work=Star Tribune |url=https://www.startribune.com/air-quality-alert-in-effect-for-southern-minnesota-twin-cities/600277130/ |url-status=live |access-date=June 7, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230530181315/https://www.startribune.com/air-quality-alert-in-effect-for-southern-minnesota-twin-cities/600277130/ |archive-date=May 30, 2023}}{{cite news |date=May 22, 2023 |title=Air quality alert issued due to ozone for Tuesday for southern Minnesota |publisher=KEYC-TV |url=https://www.keyc.com/2023/05/22/air-quality-alert-issued-due-ozone-tuesday-southern-minnesota/ |url-status=live |access-date=June 7, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230523161038/https://www.keyc.com/2023/05/22/air-quality-alert-issued-due-ozone-tuesday-southern-minnesota/ |archive-date=May 23, 2023}}{{Cite news |date=May 23, 2023 |title=Air quality alert for much of Minnesota and Wisconsin |publisher=Minnesota Public Radio |url=https://www.mprnews.org/story/2023/05/23/air-quality-alert-for-much-of-minnesota-and-wisconsin |url-status=live |access-date=June 7, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230523223742/https://www.mprnews.org/story/2023/05/23/air-quality-alert-for-much-of-minnesota-and-wisconsin |archive-date=May 23, 2023}} Smoke from the Alberta wildfires led to air quality alerts in Colorado, Montana, Nebraska, North Dakota, South Dakota, Utah, Wisconsin, and Washington by May 21.{{cite news |last1=Brink |first1=Haley |last2=Chinchar |first2=Allison |last3=Sottile |first3=Zoe |date=May 21, 2023 |title=How wildfires in Alberta lead to poor air quality in the Midwest |publisher=CNN |url=https://www.cnn.com/2023/05/21/weather/canada-wildfires-midwest-air-quality-weather/index.html |url-status=live |access-date=June 7, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230604014625/https://www.cnn.com/2023/05/21/weather/canada-wildfires-midwest-air-quality-weather/index.html |archive-date=June 4, 2023}}

File:The Smog 2023.png]]

File:Quebec Canada Wildfire Smoke Consumes New Jersey and New York City June 7 2023 - 52959378738.jpg on June 7]]

On June 2, smoke from the Nova Scotia wildfires affected air quality in Washington, D.C., and the states of Maryland, Pennsylvania, and Virginia. The smoke from wildfires in Quebec{{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}} 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 states of Minnesota, Michigan, and Wisconsin.{{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}}{{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}} The smoke on June 6 was estimated by one Stanford researcher to have been the third-worst in the country since 2006.{{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}} On June 6 and 7, solar farms in the Northeast and Midwest dropped production by around or more than 50% due to the smoke.{{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}} 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.{{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.}}{{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}}{{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}} This also marked the city's worst air quality since the 1960s and also since the 1966 New York City smog.

By June 7, air quality alerts also went out to residents in the Delaware Valley in Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and Delaware, and to additional areas in New England.{{cite news |date=June 7, 2023 |title=Air quality alert: Smoke from wildfires in Canada leads to code red across Delaware Valley |publisher=WPVI-TV |url=https://6abc.com/air-quality-alert-smoke-in-philadelphia-canada-wildfires-pa/13354267/ |access-date=June 7, 2023 |archive-date=June 30, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230630102832/https://6abc.com/air-quality-philadelphia-alert-pennsylvania-new-jersey-delaware/13361876/ |url-status=live}}{{cite news |date=June 7, 2023 |title=Air Quality Alert: Smoke from Canadian wildfires drifts across New England |publisher=CBS News |url=https://www.cbsnews.com/boston/news/quebec-ontario-wildfires-smoke-new-england-boston-canada-air-quality-alert/ |access-date=June 7, 2023 |archive-date=June 30, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230630102831/https://www.cbsnews.com/boston/news/quebec-ontario-wildfires-smoke-new-england-boston-canada-air-quality-alert/ |url-status=live}} In total, approximately 128 million Americans were under air quality alerts by the evening of June 7. The air quality index surpassed 400 in New York City; Syracuse, New York; Princeton Junction, New Jersey; and the Lehigh Valley in Pennsylvania.{{cite news |last1=Peltz |first1=Jennifer |last2=Gillies |first2=Rob |date=June 7, 2023 |title=Millions breathing hazardous air as smoke from Canadian wildfires streams south over US |publisher=Associated Press |url=https://apnews.com/article/wildfires-canada-quebec-3291016eaa4905177c90feae02a139c5 |url-status=live |access-date=June 8, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230608032839/https://apnews.com/article/wildfires-canada-quebec-3291016eaa4905177c90feae02a139c5 |archive-date=June 8, 2023}} After a brief respite, New York City's air quality returned to being the worst of any major city in the world.

On June 7, New York City officials announced plans to distribute one million N95 masks.{{cite news |last=Dillinger |first=Katherine |date=June 7, 2023 |title=New York state to make 1 million N95 masks available to residents due to poor air quality |publisher=CNN |url=https://www.cnn.com/us/live-news/us-air-quality-canadian-wildfires-06-07-23/index.html |url-status=live |access-date=June 7, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230607163247/https://www.cnn.com/us/live-news/us-air-quality-canadian-wildfires-06-07-23/index.html |archive-date=June 7, 2023}} Several airline flights to and from New York City, New Jersey, and Washington, D.C. were delayed or cancelled;{{cite news |date=June 7, 2023 |title=La Guardia and Newark flight delays over Canada wildfire smoke -GB |publisher=BBC News |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-65839336 |url-status=live |access-date=June 7, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230608023937/https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-65839336 |archive-date=June 8, 2023}} by the afternoon, the Federal Aviation Administration halted all flights going to LaGuardia Airport in New York City, citing visibility concerns.{{cite news |last=Josephs |first=Leslie |date=June 7, 2023 |title=New York-area flights delayed as Canada wildfire smoke cuts visibility |publisher=CNBC |url=https://www.cnbc.com/2023/06/07/flights-new-york-smoke-wildfires.html |access-date=June 7, 2023 |archive-date=June 30, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230630102830/https://www.cnbc.com/2023/06/07/flights-new-york-smoke-wildfires.html |url-status=live}} Schools across New York, New Jersey, and Connecticut announced closures.{{cite news |last1=Ives |first1=Mike |last2=Stack |first2=Liam |date=June 7, 2023 |title=Here's the latest on the worsening air quality in the U.S. |work=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/live/2023/06/07/us/canada-wildfires-air-quality-smoke |url-status=live |url-access=limited |access-date=June 7, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230607115708/https://www.nytimes.com/live/2023/06/07/us/canada-wildfires-air-quality-smoke |archive-date=June 7, 2023}} All bridges connecting Staten Island to New Jersey had their speed limits reduced to {{convert|30|mph|kph|abbr=on}} due to low visibility from the wildfire smoke.[https://www.nj.com/news/2023/06/speed-limits-across-nj-bridges-reduced-due-to-low-visibility-from-wildfire-haze.html Speed limits across N.J. bridges reduced due to low visibility from wildfire haze], NJ.com, June 7, 2023 Major League Baseball, the National Women's Soccer League, and the Women's National Basketball Association postponed games scheduled to be held in New York City, New Jersey, and Philadelphia the night of June 7.{{cite news |last=Fitzpatrick |first=Mike |date=June 7, 2023 |title=MLB, WNBA postpone games due to smoke from Canadian wildfires |publisher=Associated Press |url=https://apnews.com/article/new-york-city-yankees-white-sox-canada-wildfires-18874c689cdb894939910c556dc6f30c |url-status=live |access-date=June 7, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230608031658/https://apnews.com/article/new-york-city-yankees-white-sox-canada-wildfires-18874c689cdb894939910c556dc6f30c |archive-date=June 8, 2023}} The Public Theater cancelled its June 8 and 9 Shakespeare in the Park performances of Hamlet. On Broadway, performances of Camelot, Hamilton, and Prima Facie were cancelled due to the poor air quality.{{Cite news |date=June 8, 2023 |title=Jodie Comer halts Broadway show due to New York air quality: 'I can't breathe' |work=The Independent |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/theatre-dance/news/jodie-comer-broadway-nyc-air-quality-b2353592.html |access-date=June 8, 2023 |archive-date=June 30, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230630102835/https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/theatre-dance/news/jodie-comer-broadway-nyc-air-quality-b2353592.html |url-status=live }}{{cite web |last=Cristi |first=A. A. |title=CAMELOT, HAMILTON Cancel Tonight's Performances Due To Air Quality |url=https://www.broadwayworld.com/article/CAMELOT-Cancels-Tonights-Performance-Due-To-Air-Quality-Updating-Live-20230607 |access-date=June 8, 2023 |website=BroadwayWorld |archive-date=June 30, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230630103850/https://www.broadwayworld.com/article/CAMELOT-Cancels-Tonights-Performance-Due-To-Air-Quality-Updating-Live-20230607 |url-status=live }}File:Smoke_in_Minneapolis.jpg

On the morning of June 8, air quality was worst throughout the area surrounding Pennsylvania, Washington, D.C., and Trenton, New Jersey.{{Cite news |last1=Ives |first1=Mike |last2=Williams |first2=Kevin |last3=Stack |first3=Liam |date=June 8, 2023 |title=Wildfire Smoke Spreads Across Swaths of U.S.: Live News and Updates |work=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/live/2023/06/08/us/canada-wildfires-air-quality-smoke?name=styln-wildfires-smoke |url-access=limited |access-date=June 8, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230608133305/https://www.nytimes.com/live/2023/06/08/us/canada-wildfires-air-quality-smoke?name=styln-wildfires-smoke®ion=TOP_BANNER&block=storyline_menu_recirc&action=click&pgtype=Interactive&variant=undefined |archive-date=June 8, 2023}}{{Cite news |last1=Dong |first1=Madison |last2=Malsky |first2=Bea |last3=Bloch |first3=Matthew |last4=Gómez |first4=Martín González |last5=Jones |first5=Judson |last6=Murphy |first6=John-Michael |date=June 8, 2023 |title=Canada Wildfire Tracker: Maps, Air Quality and Latest Smoke Forecast |work=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2023/us/smoke-maps-canada-fires.html |url-access=limited |access-date=June 8, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230608133105/https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2023/us/smoke-maps-canada-fires.html |archive-date=June 8, 2023}} Philadelphia's air quality levels reached their worst levels since 1999.{{Cite news |last=Bella |first=Timothy |date=June 8, 2023 |title=Philadelphia's hazardous air quality from Canadian wildfires is worst level in city since 1999 |newspaper=The Washington Post |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/climate-environment/2023/06/08/philadelphia-air-quality-worst-wildfire-smoke/ |access-date=June 8, 2023}} New York City climbed into the worst tier of the United States Environmental Protection Agency's six-tier air quality index, causing Governor Kathy Hochul to call it an "emergency crisis". Flights continued to be delayed for planes bound for Newark, New York City, and Philadelphia, with delays for Charlotte and Dallas also expected.{{Cite news |last1=Arkin |first1=Daniel |last2=Blackman |first2=Jay |date=June 8, 2023 |title=Canadian wildfire smoke disrupts U.S. air travel |publisher=NBC News |url=https://www.nbcnews.com/news/canadian-wildfire-smoke-disrupts-us-air-travel-rcna88335 |url-status=live |access-date=June 8, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230608204414/https://www.nbcnews.com/news/canadian-wildfire-smoke-disrupts-us-air-travel-rcna88335 |archive-date=June 8, 2023}}{{Cite news |last=Sgueglia |first=Kristina |date=June 8, 2023 |title=FAA delays flights into New York and Newark airports as Canadian wildfire smoke spreads |publisher=CNN Business |url=https://www.cnn.com/2023/06/08/business/faa-groundstop/index.html |access-date=June 8, 2023 |archive-date=June 30, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230630104341/https://www.cnn.com/2023/06/08/business/faa-groundstop/index.html |url-status=live }}{{Cite news |last=Bailey |first=Chelsea |date=June 7, 2023 |title=Canada wildfire smoke: Flights grounded across US east coast -GB |publisher=BBC News |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-65839336 |url-status=live |access-date=June 8, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230608023937/https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-65839336 |archive-date=June 8, 2023}} United Airlines issued travel waivers to impacted passengers. Horse racing at Belmont Park in New York was cancelled,{{cite news |date=June 8, 2023 |title=NY governor warns Belmont Stakes could be affected if air quality doesn't improve |publisher=Associated Press |url=https://apnews.com/article/canada-wildfires-air-quality-belmont-mlb-7b056b200247faec759f97882ebc3808 |access-date=June 9, 2023 |archive-date=June 30, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230630104333/https://apnews.com/article/canada-wildfires-air-quality-belmont-mlb-7b056b200247faec759f97882ebc3808 |url-status=live }} and Major League Baseball also postponed a game in Washington D.C. that night.[https://www.nbcnewyork.com/news/sports/mlb/belmont-cancels-racing-and-nationals-postpone-game-due-to-poor-air-quality-from-canada-wildfires/4405970/?amp=1 Belmont cancels racing and Nationals postpone game due to poor air quality from Canada wildfires], Storm Team 4 NY, June 8, 2023 The Bronx Zoo closed on June 8 due to smoke.[https://bronx.news12.com/bronx-zoo-shuts-its-doors-due-to-air-quality-concerns Bronx Zoo shuts its doors due to air quality concerns], Bronx News 12, June 8, 2023

New York City public high schools and the School District of Philadelphia announced they would switch to virtual learning on June 9, due to poor air quality.{{Cite news |date=June 8, 2023 |title=School District of Philadelphia shifting to virtual learning Friday due to Canadian wildfire smoke |url=https://www.cbsnews.com/philadelphia/news/philadelphia-schools-virtual-canada-wildfire-smoke-wildfire/ |access-date=June 9, 2023 |publisher=KYW-TV |archive-date=June 8, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230608220705/https://www.cbsnews.com/philadelphia/news/philadelphia-schools-virtual-canada-wildfire-smoke-wildfire/ |url-status=live }}{{cite web |title=School Calendar and Closures |url=https://portal.311.nyc.gov/article/?kanumber=KA-02522 |access-date=June 9, 2023 |publisher=NYC 311 |archive-date=June 9, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230609233607/https://portal.311.nyc.gov/article/?kanumber=KA-02522 |url-status=live }} By June 11, air quality alerts were still active in New York City, Baltimore, and Philadelphia, but air quality had substantially improved from earlier in the week.{{Cite news |last=Yang |first=Maya |date=June 11, 2023 |title=Poor air quality returns to US north-east from Canada wildfires -GB |work=The Guardian |url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2023/jun/11/poor-air-quality-returns-to-us-north-east-canada-wildfires |access-date=June 12, 2023 |archive-date=June 11, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230611235945/https://www.theguardian.com/world/2023/jun/11/poor-air-quality-returns-to-us-north-east-canada-wildfires |url-status=live }}

On June 14, an air quality alert was issued for Minnesota due to dangerous air quality levels affecting the state. The air quality in Minneapolis reached 256 at 6:00{{Nbsp}}pm that day.[https://m.startribune.com/air-quality-alert-issued-for-much-of-minnesota-twin-cities/600282533/?clmob=y&c=n&clmob=y&c=n Air quality alert expanded as pollution reaches record levels] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230616214020/https://m.startribune.com/air-quality-alert-issued-for-much-of-minnesota-twin-cities/600282533/?clmob=y&c=n&clmob=y&c=n |date=June 16, 2023 }}, Star Tribune, June 14, 2023 On June 27, the smoke spread over the Midwest, causing Chicago to suffer from the worst air quality in the world, reaching 228 AQI.{{Cite news |date=June 27, 2023 |title=Chicago has the worst air quality in the world due to Canadian wildfire smoke |url=https://www.cbsnews.com/news/chicago-worst-air-quality-canadian-wildfire-smoke-june-27-2023/ |last=O'Kane |first=Caitlin |access-date=June 28, 2023 |publisher=CBS News |archive-date=June 28, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230628023115/https://www.cbsnews.com/news/chicago-worst-air-quality-canadian-wildfire-smoke-june-27-2023/ |url-status=live }} Michigan and Pennsylvania were also affected,{{Cite news |last1=Hernandez |first1=Joe |last2=Treisman |first2=Rachel |last3=Ritchie |first3=L. Carol |last4=Olson |first4=Emily |date=June 28, 2023 |title=Detroit, Chicago and the Midwest blanketed by wildfire haze from Canada |publisher=NPR |url=https://www.npr.org/2023/06/28/1184746530/why-haze-wildfire-canada-midwest |access-date=June 28, 2023 |archive-date=June 28, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230628140210/https://www.npr.org/2023/06/28/1184746530/why-haze-wildfire-canada-midwest |url-status=live }} and sent out air quality alerts to residents.{{Cite news |last=Samilton |first=Tracy |date=June 27, 2023 |title=Smoke from Canadian wildfires again threatening health in Michigan - What to know |url=https://www.michiganradio.org/environment-climate-change/2023-06-27/smoke-from-canadian-wildfires-again-threatening-health-in-michigan |access-date=June 28, 2023 |publisher=Michigan Radio |archive-date=June 27, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230627225449/https://www.michiganradio.org/environment-climate-change/2023-06-27/smoke-from-canadian-wildfires-again-threatening-health-in-michigan |url-status=live }}{{cite web |last=Shugarts |first=Doug |date=June 28, 2023 |title=Air quality declines in Pittsburgh as smoke and haze from Canadian wildfires blanket metro area |url=https://www.wesa.fm/environment-energy/2023-06-28/pittsburgh-air-canadian-wildfires |access-date=June 28, 2023 |publisher=WESA |archive-date=June 28, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230628120358/https://www.wesa.fm/environment-energy/2023-06-28/pittsburgh-air-canadian-wildfires |url-status=live}} Air quality alerts were issued for 80 million people in the US.{{cite news |last1=Hemingway Jaynes |first1=Cristen |title=80 Million People in U.S. Under Air Quality Alerts as Canada's Wildfire Smoke Swings South Again |url=https://www.ecowatch.com/canada-wildfire-smoke-us-air-quality.html |access-date=June 29, 2023 |agency=Ecowatch |date=June 28, 2023 |archive-date=June 29, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230629160525/https://www.ecowatch.com/canada-wildfire-smoke-us-air-quality.html |url-status=live}} On June 29, an MLB game in Pittsburgh was delayed by 45 minutes, and several players on the Pittsburgh Pirates were upset with the MLB for not postponing the game.{{cite news |title=Pirates players call out MLB for playing game through wildfire smoke, Andrew McCutchen wears mask on bases |url=https://www.cbssports.com/mlb/news/pirates-players-call-out-mlb-for-playing-game-through-wildfire-smoke-andrew-mccutchen-wears-mask-on-bases/ |access-date=June 16, 2024 |publisher=CBS Sports |date=June 29, 2023}}

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The wildfire smoke also drifted to Europe; as of May 23–25, it was mainly located over Scandinavia.{{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 }}{{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}} On June 8, Iceland and Greenland were affected by drifting smoke, with forecasts suggesting Norway would also be affected over the next few days.{{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}}{{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}} As of June 9, smoke in Europe was not dense enough to have harmful effects on health.{{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}}{{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}}

On June 25, the smoke reached the Azores; by June 26, it reached Western Europe, specifically France, Portugal, Spain, and the United Kingdom.{{cite news |last=Chappell |first=Bill |date=June 27, 2023 |title=Smoke from Canada's wildfires darkens Europe's skies |publisher=NPR |url=https://www.npr.org/2023/06/27/1184494482/smoke-canada-wildfire-europe-air |access-date=June 28, 2023 |archive-date=June 28, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230628003431/https://www.npr.org/2023/06/27/1184494482/smoke-canada-wildfire-europe-air |url-status=live }} As the smoke was higher in the atmosphere, it did not affect air quality as it did in the United States, but forecasts predicted it could lead to more vivid sunrises and sunsets and hazy skies.{{cite news |last1=Sutton |first1=Joe |last2=Ward |first2=Taylor |last3=Sottile |first3=Zoe |date=June 27, 2023 |title=Canadian wildfire smoke reaches Europe as Canada reports its worst fire season on record |url=https://www.cnn.com/2023/06/26/americas/canada-wildfire-season-worst-2023/index.html |access-date=June 28, 2023 |publisher=CNN |archive-date=June 27, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230627200606/https://www.cnn.com/2023/06/26/americas/canada-wildfire-season-worst-2023/index.html |url-status=live }}

On July 11, a 9-year-old boy in 100 Mile House, B.C., died after suffering an asthma attack worsened by wildfire smoke.{{Cite web |publisher=CNN |first=Sara |last=Smart |date=July 18, 2023 |title=9-year-old Canadian boy dies after suffering asthma attack worsened by wildfire smoke, parents say |url=https://www.kwwl.com/news/national/9-year-old-canadian-boy-dies-after-suffering-asthma-attack-worsened-by-wildfire-smoke-parents/article_10effeea-2d8f-5f7c-a68f-79960a295679.html |access-date=July 26, 2023 |website=KWWL |archive-date=August 26, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230826162036/https://www.kwwl.com/news/national/9-year-old-canadian-boy-dies-after-suffering-asthma-attack-worsened-by-wildfire-smoke-parents/article_10effeea-2d8f-5f7c-a68f-79960a295679.html |url-status=live }} In total, eight wildfire personnel died as a result of the fires.{{Cite web |date=2024-09-17 |title=Canada wildfires, 2023 - Forensic analysis {{!}} UNDRR |url=https://www.undrr.org/resource/canada-wildfires-2023-forensic-analysis |access-date=2025-04-26 |website=www.undrr.org |publisher=United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNDRR) |language=en}} On July 13, a firefighter for the B.C. Wildfire Service was killed by a falling tree.{{Cite web |date=July 22, 2023 |title='She made my world sparkle': Emotional procession held for fallen B.C. wildfire fighter in Revelstoke |url=https://bc.ctvnews.ca/she-made-my-world-sparkle-emotional-procession-held-for-fallen-b-c-wildfire-fighter-in-revelstoke-1.6490526 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230726022740/https://bc.ctvnews.ca/she-made-my-world-sparkle-emotional-procession-held-for-fallen-b-c-wildfire-fighter-in-revelstoke-1.6490526 |archive-date=July 26, 2023 |access-date=July 26, 2023 |website=British Columbia}}{{Cite web |title=Devyn Helena Gale (November 24, 2003 - July 13, 2023) |url=https://www.tributearchive.com/obituaries/28483678/devyn-helena-gale/wall |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230727132845/https://www.tributearchive.com/obituaries/28483678/devyn-helena-gale/wall |archive-date=July 27, 2023 |access-date=July 27, 2023 |publisher=Bowers Funeral Service}} On July 15, a firefighter for the Northwest Territories Forest Management Service died when he was struck by a falling tree.{{Cite web |agency=The Canadian Press |date=July 18, 2023 |title=Family remembers firefighter killed in N.W.T. as brave and passionate about his job |url=https://www.thestar.com/news/canada/family-remembers-firefighter-killed-in-n-w-t-as-brave-and-passionate-about-his-job/article_eed0b0b7-002f-5f47-b8be-bb96addaf65b.html |access-date=July 26, 2023 |website=Toronto Star |archive-date=July 26, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230726022738/https://www.thestar.com/news/canada/family-remembers-firefighter-killed-in-n-w-t-as-brave-and-passionate-about-his-job/article_eed0b0b7-002f-5f47-b8be-bb96addaf65b.html |url-status=live }} On July 19, a firefighter was killed when his Bell 205A helicopter crashed as he was bucketing water as part of firefighting operations in northwestern Alberta.{{Cite web |last=Snowdon |first=Wallis |date=July 20, 2023 |title=Pilot dead after helicopter fighting wildfire crashes in northwestern Alberta |url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/edmonton/alberta-helicopter-wildfire-crash-1.6912301 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230725032822/https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/edmonton/alberta-helicopter-wildfire-crash-1.6912301 |archive-date=Jul 25, 2023}}{{Cite web |date=2023-07-20 |title=Helicopter pilot killed in crash during firefighting operation in northern Alberta |url=https://edmonton.ctvnews.ca/helicopter-pilot-killed-in-crash-during-firefighting-operation-in-northern-alberta-1.6487413 |access-date=2024-04-04 |website=Edmonton |language=en}} A contract firefighter was fatally injured in the Prince George Fire Centre region on July 28.{{Cite web |last=Matassa-Fung |first=Darrian |date=July 29, 2023 |title=Firefighter killed in line of duty in Prince George Fire Centre region: BC Wildfire Service {{!}} Globalnews.ca |url=https://globalnews.ca/news/9865476/bc-firefighter-killed-prince-george-fire-centre/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230729212812/https://globalnews.ca/news/9865476/bc-firefighter-killed-prince-george-fire-centre/ |archive-date=July 29, 2023 |access-date=2023-07-29 |website=Global News |language=en-US}} On August 18, a hospital patient from Yellowknife, N.W.T., died during the evacuation of the city.{{Cite news |last=Carroll |first=Luke |date=August 19, 2023 |title=Patient dies during evacuation of Yellowknife hospital |work=CBC.ca |url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/north/nwt-wildfire-update-1.6941729 |url-status=live |access-date=August 20, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230820015730/https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/north/nwt-wildfire-update-1.6941729 |archive-date=August 20, 2023}} Additionally, on September 19, four contract crew members died in a vehicle crash with a semi-truck near Walhachin, B.C., as they returned from a shift working on fires in the Vanderhoof region.{{Cite news |last1=Crawford |first1=Tiffany |last2=Ruttle |first2=Joseph |date=September 20, 2023 |title=Four B.C. Wildfire Service contract workers die in crash on Highway 1 near Walhachin |url=https://vancouversun.com/news/local-news/four-b-c-wildfire-service-sub-contractors-die-in-car-crash-on-highway-1-near-walhachin |work=Vancouver Sun}}

{{quote box

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| border = 1px

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| quote = “My wife and I were deeply concerned to learn of the wildfires ravaging communities in Western Canada. We send our most special thoughts and prayers to all those who have been displaced and who have lost their homes, businesses, or property. We would also like to express our deepest admiration to the first responders and volunteers who have been working to bring the fires under control, while also supporting their neighbours and communities in need.

We hold many fond memories of our visits to Western Canada and know that those affected will rise to this challenge with customary Canadian strength, resilience, and determination."{{citation| url=https://www.gg.ca/en/media/news/2023/message-his-majesty-king-regarding-wildfires-western-canada| author=Office of the Governor General of Canada| title=A Message from His Majesty The King regarding the wildfires in Western Canada| date=11 May 2023| publisher=King's Printer for Canada| accessdate=2 October 2023}}

| salign = right

| source = Charles III, King of Canada, May 11, 2023

}}

On May 9, the government of Yukon sent 21 firefighters to assist crews in Alberta. The team returned to Yukon on May 24. Another 21-person team returned to Alberta on May 31.{{cite news |last=Egwu |first=Patrick |date=June 3, 2023 |title=The Yukon sends additional wildfire personnel to Alberta and the N.W.T. |work=Yukon News |url=https://www.yukon-news.com/news/the-yukon-sends-additional-wildfire-personnel-to-alberta-and-the-n-w-t/ |url-status=live |access-date=June 8, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230604200357/https://www.yukon-news.com/news/the-yukon-sends-additional-wildfire-personnel-to-alberta-and-the-n-w-t/ |archive-date=June 4, 2023}} On May 11, at least 300 members of the Canadian Armed Forces were also sent to different parts of Alberta to help.{{cite web |last=Mertz |first=Emily |date=May 11, 2023 |title=Alberta wildfires: Where and how are Canadian Armed Forces deployed? |url=https://globalnews.ca/news/9690879/alberta-wildfires-where-how-canadian-armed-forces-deployed/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230512192131/https://globalnews.ca/news/9690879/alberta-wildfires-where-how-canadian-armed-forces-deployed/ |archive-date=May 12, 2023 |access-date=May 13, 2023 |website=Global News}}

The province planned to put campfire bans in place on June 8, to stay in effect until October.{{Cite news |last=Steacy |first=Lisa |date=June 6, 2023 |title=Here's when and where campfire bans are coming into effect in B.C. |publisher=CTV News |url=https://www.ctvnews.ca/here-s-when-and-where-campfire-bans-are-coming-into-effect-in-b-c-1.6430339 |url-status=live |access-date=June 7, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230630100637/https://www.ctvnews.ca/here-s-when-and-where-campfire-bans-are-coming-into-effect-in-b-c-1.6430339 |archive-date=June 30, 2023}}{{update after|2023|8|20}} International fire crews also came to British Columbia from five countries. Natural Resources Canada, with its Fire Weather Index, also tracked the wildfires and issued warnings. On 18 August, the province imposed an emergency, giving officials more power to deal with fire risks.

On August 20, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced that the Armed Forces would help with evacuation in B.C.{{Cite news |date=August 21, 2023 |title=Canada to deploy army to help fight wildfires in British Columbia |work=Al Jazeera |url=https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2023/8/21/canada-to-deploy-army-to-help-fight-wildfires-in-british-columbia |url-status=live |access-date=August 25, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230825131453/https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2023/8/21/canada-to-deploy-army-to-help-fight-wildfires-in-british-columbia |archive-date=August 25, 2023}} Trudeau visited the province on August 25 to meet with community leaders dealing with the wildfires.{{Cite news |last=Clarkson |first=Becca |date=August 25, 2023 |title=Prime minister in B.C. visiting with those involved in wildfire response |work=CTV News Vancouver |url=https://bc.ctvnews.ca/prime-minister-in-b-c-visiting-with-those-involved-in-wildfire-response-1.6534876 |url-status=live |access-date=August 25, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230825194449/https://bc.ctvnews.ca/prime-minister-in-b-c-visiting-with-those-involved-in-wildfire-response-1.6534876 |archive-date=August 25, 2023}}

Travel restrictions were placed in southeastern Manitoba on May 27. Provincial burn permits for the area were cancelled, with the exception of burn permits for essential operations that had been approved by a conservation officer and which had had a site inspection. The government of Manitoba was not sending firefighters to assist other provinces in early June, due to concerns about Manitoba's fire risk.

File:Leaving NWT during 2023 wildfires.jpg

Although Nova Scotia sent a team of 20 firefighters to the NWT on May 25, they were recalled on May 29 due to the worsening wildfire situation in their home province. On June 6, the Canadian government announced that they and the Government of the Northwest Territories would match United Way donations for disaster relief in the region.{{Cite press release |title=The Government of Canada to match United Way donations to support wildfire response in the Northwest Territories |date=June 5, 2023 |publisher=Public Safety Canada |url=https://www.canada.ca/en/public-safety-canada/news/2023/06/the-government-of-canada-to-match-united-way-donations-to-support-wildfire-response-in-the-northwest-territories.html |access-date=June 8, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230726212106/https://www.canada.ca/en/public-safety-canada/news/2023/06/the-government-of-canada-to-match-united-way-donations-to-support-wildfire-response-in-the-northwest-territories.html |archive-date=July 26, 2023 |url-status=live}}

Smoke from the wildfires caused highways in the territory to be shut down, with the NWT government stating that "[h]ighway travel is not an option as a way out" due to dangerous conditions, instead saying "[y]our safest way out is on the plane, NOW. GO TO THE AIRPORT NOW." Kandis Jameson, the mayor of Hay River, urged residents on August 15 to "find transport out of [town] immediately," describing their situation as "life-threatening." On August 19, NWT Premier Caroline Cochrane announced that she had evacuated to Alberta to avoid taking up a space on one of the last planes to leave.

On August 14, Shane Thompson, the NWT Minister of Environment and Natural Resources, described the scale of the fires as "unprecedented" and "unlike anything we’ve ever experienced."

To prevent further fires, all open fires were banned province-wide on May 29. On May 30, hiking, camping, fishing, and the use of vehicles in the woods were banned in all forests in the province until June 25, or until conditions allow them to be lifted. The Halifax Regional Municipality also closed all heavily wooded city parks on May 31.{{Cite news |date=May 30, 2023 |title=Municipal fires and impacts update – May 30, 11 p.m |publisher=Halifax |url=https://www.halifax.ca/home/news/municipal-fires-impacts-update-may-30-845-pm |url-status=live |access-date=June 3, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230531001038/https://www.halifax.ca/home/news/municipal-fires-impacts-update-may-30-845-pm |archive-date=May 31, 2023}} All schools in Shelburne County and several schools in Halifax Regional Municipality were closed in response to the fires.{{Cite news |date=June 2, 2023 |title=Emergency alerts and information |work=Emergency Alerts – Nova Scotia |url=https://novascotia.ca/alerts/ |url-status=live |access-date=June 3, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230531105213/https://novascotia.ca/alerts/ |archive-date=May 31, 2023}}

In late-May, New London, Prince Edward Island sent a team of four firefighters to assist crews in Nova Scotia.{{cite news |last=Yarr |first=Kevin |date=June 5, 2023 |title=P.E.I. fire chief describes 'unbelievable' destruction of N.S. wildfire |publisher=CBC News |url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/prince-edward-island/pei-allen-cole-tantallon-fire-1.6865650 |url-status=live |access-date=June 7, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230630101148/https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/prince-edward-island/pei-allen-cole-tantallon-fire-1.6865650 |archive-date=June 30, 2023}} On May 29, Newfoundland and Labrador sent two waterbombers to the province.{{Cite news |date=May 29, 2023 |title=2 N.L. waterbombers in the air to fight N.S. wildfires, says Furey |publisher=CBC News |url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/newfoundland-labrador/nl-water-bombers-nova-scotia-1.6857752 |url-status=live |access-date=June 8, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230530001803/https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/newfoundland-labrador/nl-water-bombers-nova-scotia-1.6857752 |archive-date=May 30, 2023}} In early June, a six-person team from Alberta came to the province to assist in assessing fire damage to property and infrastructure.

The provincial government issued an initial emergency payment of $500 to all evacuated households in the immediate aftermath of the fires.{{Cite news |last1=Premier's Office |last2=Natural Resources and Renewables |date=May 29, 2023 |title=Support for Nova Scotians Impacted by Wildfires; Provincewide Burn Ban |publisher=Nova Scotia |url=https://novascotia.ca/news/release/?id=20230529002 |url-status=live |access-date=June 3, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230530124714/https://novascotia.ca/news/release/?id=20230529002 |archive-date=May 30, 2023}} Additionally, the Canadian government established a donation matching program with the Nova Scotian government and the Canadian Red Cross to support those affected by the fires.{{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 |agency=The Canadian Press |url=https://nationalpost.com/news/canada/barrington-lake-blaze-in-nova-scotia-is-the-largest-wildfire-ever-recorded-in-provincial-history |url-status=live |access-date=June 3, 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 |archive-date=June 30, 2023}} On June 7, the provincial government announced it would give a one-time grant of $2,500 to registered farmers in Halifax and Shelburne County who had been under mandatory evacuation orders.

Delays of up to three years in rebuilding houses are expected due to the province's construction backlog.{{cite news |date=June 7, 2023 |title=Rebuilding homes after Nova Scotia wildfires could take up to three years - Halifax |publisher=Global News |url=https://globalnews.ca/news/9752647/rebuilding-homes-ns-wildfire-three-years/ |url-status=live |access-date=June 8, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230630101147/https://globalnews.ca/news/9752647/rebuilding-homes-ns-wildfire-three-years/ |archive-date=June 30, 2023}}

The provincial government put a fire ban in place on May 16; it was lifted on May 24 due to improving conditions. On May 19, the SPSA announced they would provide financial aid to residents impacted by fire-related power outages. The government of Quebec sent two amphibious tankers to the province to assist with firefighting efforts.

The Canadian government 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{{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 }}
• Training firefighters to respond to fires in the wildland-urban interface
• Launching a satellite mission (WildFireSat, currently planned for 2029) dedicated to monitoring fires{{Cite web |last=Agency |first=Canadian Space |date=2019-08-30 |title=WildFireSat: Enhancing Canada's ability to manage wildfires |url=https://www.asc-csa.gc.ca/eng/satellites/wildfiresat/ |access-date=2023-08-17 |website=Canadian Space Agency |archive-date=August 18, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230818003547/https://www.asc-csa.gc.ca/eng/satellites/wildfiresat/ |url-status=live }}
• Building wildland fire knowledge through research and pilot projects on fire risk reduction measures
• Creating a dedicated centre to help transform wildland fire management
• Growing the Canadian Armed Forces to allow for better response to disasters{{Cite news |last=Tumilty |first=Ryan |date=June 7, 2023 |title=Trudeau says federal government looking at new ways to respond to fires, floods |work=National Post |url=https://nationalpost.com/news/politics/trudeau-says-feds-looking-at-new-ways-to-respond-to-fires-floods |access-date=August 17, 2023 |archive-date=August 26, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230826162041/https://nationalpost.com/news/politics/trudeau-says-feds-looking-at-new-ways-to-respond-to-fires-floods |url-status=live }}

On May 8, 22 firefighters from the Oregon Department of Forestry were sent to Alberta to assist in fire control efforts,{{cite web |author= |date=May 8, 2023 |title=ODF sends 22 firefighters to Alberta to help fight wildfires |url=https://odffire.com/2023/05/08/odf-sends-22-firefighters-to-alberta-to-help-fight-wildfires/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230517053407/https://odffire.com/2023/05/08/odf-sends-22-firefighters-to-alberta-to-help-fight-wildfires/ |archive-date=May 17, 2023 |access-date=May 17, 2023}} and on June 6, Quebec Premier François Legault announced that 200 French and American firefighters would travel to Quebec to help fight the wildfires, and that the province was in negotiations with Chile, Costa Rica, and Portugal to find more resources.{{cite news |date=June 5, 2023 |title=Canadian province of Quebec looks for international support to fight wildfires |publisher=Associated Press |url=https://apnews.com/article/wildfires-canada-quebec-55d9a5d14e631271475fe0af1d55bea8 |url-status=live |access-date=June 7, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230607053052/https://apnews.com/article/wildfires-canada-quebec-55d9a5d14e631271475fe0af1d55bea8 |archive-date=June 7, 2023}} On June 7, the Canadian Interagency Forest Fire Centre said that 950 firefighters and other personnel had travelled from other countries (including Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, and the United States) to provide aid. On June 8, the European Commission announced they would be sending more than 280 firefighters from France, Spain, and Portugal. New York governor Kathy Hochul announced the state would send seven firefighters over the course of two weeks, per the request of Canada.

Around 5,000 firefighters from multiple countries arrived in Canada as of June 14, with more expected to arrive from Chile and Costa Rica. Prime Minister Trudeau said that Canadian firefighters would also help other countries, saying that "fire seasons aren't always aligned and that allows for a travelling of resources that is part of how we're going to make sure we're protecting communities all around the world."

In response to the Online News Act, Meta (owner of Facebook) began blocking access to news sites for Canadian users at the beginning of August 2023.{{Cite news |date=August 1, 2023 |title=Meta starts blocking news in Canada over law on paying publishers |work=Reuters |url=https://www.reuters.com/technology/meta-starts-process-end-news-availability-canada-2023-08-01/ |access-date=August 24, 2023 |archive-date=August 22, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230822081048/https://www.reuters.com/technology/meta-starts-process-end-news-availability-canada-2023-08-01/ |url-status=live }}{{Cite news |last=Lindeman |first=Tracey |date=August 4, 2023 |title='Disaster': warning for democracy as experts condemn Meta over Canada news ban |work=The Guardian |url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2023/aug/04/canada-meta-news-ban-facebook-fake |access-date=August 24, 2023 |archive-date=August 26, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230826162605/https://www.theguardian.com/world/2023/aug/04/canada-meta-news-ban-facebook-fake |url-status=live }} This also extended to local Canadian news stories about the wildfires,{{Cite news |last=Ljunggren |first=David |date=August 18, 2023 |title=Canada demands Meta lift news ban to allow wildfire info sharing |work=Reuters |url=https://www.reuters.com/technology/canada-demands-meta-lift-ban-news-allow-fires-info-be-shared-2023-08-18/ |access-date=August 24, 2023 |archive-date=August 24, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230824212724/https://www.reuters.com/technology/canada-demands-meta-lift-ban-news-allow-fires-info-be-shared-2023-08-18/ |url-status=live }} a decision that was heavily criticized by Trudeau, local government officials, academics, researchers, and evacuees.{{Cite news |last1=Woolf |first1=Marie |last2=Walsh |first2=Marieke |last3=Smith |first3=Alanna |others=With a report from The Canadian Press |date=August 21, 2023 |title=Trudeau accuses Facebook of prioritizing profits by blocking news access during wildfires |language=en-CA |work=The Globe and Mail |url=https://www.theglobeandmail.com/politics/article-facebook-trudeau-wildfires-bill-c18/ |access-date=August 24, 2023 |archive-date=August 24, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230824145856/https://www.theglobeandmail.com/politics/article-facebook-trudeau-wildfires-bill-c18/ |url-status=live }}{{Cite news |last=Gillies |first=Rob |date=August 21, 2023 |title=Prime Minister Justin Trudeau slams Facebook for blocking Canada wildfire news |work=Associated Press |url=https://apnews.com/article/canada-wildfires-facebook-news-blocking-734a5bc05796e38a011c6c9a473efea8 |access-date=August 24, 2023 |archive-date=August 25, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230825141252/https://apnews.com/article/canada-wildfires-facebook-news-blocking-734a5bc05796e38a011c6c9a473efea8 |url-status=live }}{{Cite news |last=Evans |first=Pete |date=August 18, 2023 |title=N.W.T. wildfire evacuees say Facebook's news ban 'dangerous' in emergency situation |work=CBC News |url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/business/nwt-wildfire-evacuation-meta-blocking-news-1.6939286 |access-date=August 24, 2023 |archive-date=August 24, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230824212009/https://www.cbc.ca/news/business/nwt-wildfire-evacuation-meta-blocking-news-1.6939286 |url-status=live }} Trudeau accused Facebook of "putting corporate profits ahead of people’s safety," with Premier of British Columbia David Eby expressing similar sentiments.

Evacuees who fled the Northwest Territories wildfires described the difficulty they faced attempting to share news (made worse by an already "barren" media landscape in the territory),{{Cite news |last=Alam |first=Hina |date=August 22, 2023 |title=Lack of local media, Meta's news block impact Northwest Territories residents' access to information |work=The Globe and Mail |agency=The Canadian Press |url=https://www.theglobeandmail.com/canada/article-northwest-territories-under-threat-by-wildfires-and-lack-of-local-news-2/ |access-date=August 24, 2023 |archive-date=August 24, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230824213142/https://www.theglobeandmail.com/canada/article-northwest-territories-under-threat-by-wildfires-and-lack-of-local-news-2/ |url-status=live }} as many relied on Facebook to communicate their situation. Ollie Williams of Yellowknife's Cabin Radio said that users had to resort to posting screenshots of news stories, as posting news directly would result in the link getting blocked.

Meta responded to these criticisms by stating that Canadians "can continue to use our technologies to connect with their communities and access reputable information […] from official government agencies, emergency services and non-governmental organizations," and encouraged them to use Facebook's Safety Check feature.

Conspiracy theories were promoted about the cause of the wildfires by climate change deniers, with arson, pyrotechnic drones, directed-energy weapons and space lasers being among the supposed causes.{{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}}{{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 }} These conspiracy theories went viral on social media platforms such as TikTok.{{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 }}

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.{{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}}{{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 }} France 24 noted that the fires started over a period of twelve hours. 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. Some social media users also falsely suggested that the haze seen over the United States was caused by ammonium nitrate instead of the wildfires.{{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}}

Canadian former National Hockey League player Theo Fleury suggested on Twitter that governments are lying about the nature of climate change to facilitate "climate lockdowns". People's Party of Canada leader Maxime Bernier accused "green terrorism" of starting the fires.

In early 2024, a Quebec man who posted conspiracy theories claiming the fires were started deliberately by the government pleaded guilty to setting 14 fires himself, the largest of which burned over 872 hectares and resulted in the evacuation of about 500 homes in Chapais.{{Cite web |last=Serebrin |first=Jacob |date=January 15, 2024 |title=Quebec man who blamed wildfires on government pleads guilty to setting 14 fires |url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/montreal/brian-pare-pleads-guilty-to-setting-quebec-wildfires-1.7084669 |access-date=16 January 2024 |website=CBC.ca |agency=Canadian Press}}

{{Portal|Canada|Ecology}}

{{columns-list|colwidth=30em|

• 2019–20 Australian bushfire season
• 2023 Canadian drought
• 2023 Hawaii wildfires
• Chinchaga fire
• Forests of Canada
• List of disasters in Canada
• List of fires in Canada
• List of largest fires of the 21st century
• New England's Dark Day
• Orange Skies Day
• 2023 Greek wildfires

}}

{{reflist|group=note}}

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{{cite news |last=McLernon |first=Will |date=May 25, 2023 |title=Some Saskatchewan wildfire evacuees longing to go back home, but others returning say it's bittersweet |publisher=CBC News |url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/saskatchewan/returning-home-to-northern-saskatchewan-is-bittersweet-for-some-wildfire-evacuees-1.6854255 |archive-date=June 10, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230610020624/https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/saskatchewan/returning-home-to-northern-saskatchewan-is-bittersweet-for-some-wildfire-evacuees-1.6854255 |url-status=live |access-date=June 9, 2023}}

{{cite web |date=2023-05-15 |title=High Level Area Update |url=https://srd.web.alberta.ca/high-level-area-update |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230515193651/https://srd.web.alberta.ca/high-level-area-update |archive-date=2023-05-15 |access-date=2023-05-15}}

}}

{{Commons}}

• [https://www.gov.nt.ca/ecc/en/services/wildfire-update Government of the Northwest Territories – Wildfire Update | Environment and Climate Change]

{{2023 wildfires}}

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