Five ways governments can respond to wildfires

The policy brief outlines how climate change and historical land management have increased wildfire risk across Canada, leading to record-breaking seasons and significant financial losses. It proposes five key government interventions: restricting development in high-hazard zones, mandating fire-resilient building codes, implementing fuel management and Indigenous cultural burning, increasing firefighting capacity, and accelerating carbon emission reductions.

• Wildfire intensity and frequency are increasing in Canada, with the 2023 season burning more than six times the annual average area and over 230,000 people being evacuated.
• Climate change is expanding the geographic threat of wildfires; extreme fire conditions in Eastern Canada more than doubled in 2023, and the number of active fire spread days in that region may double or triple by the end of the century.
• Financial losses from wildfires are rising sharply, with the 2024 Jasper, Alberta, fire causing over $1.2 billion in insured damages and the 2016 Fort McMurray fire resulting in nearly $11 billion in total direct and indirect costs.
• Development in the wildland-urban interface, where 12% of Canadians now live, increases risk; financial losses could more than double by 2030 if federal housing targets follow current development patterns.
• Past fire suppression policies have led to the accumulation of excessive vegetation, particularly in the boreal forest near communities, which provides fuel for more severe fires.

APA

Canadian Climate Institute (2025). Five ways governments can respond to wildfires. https://climateinstitute.ca/five-ways-governments-can-respond-wildfires/

Chicago

Canadian Climate Institute. Five ways governments can respond to wildfires. 2025. https://climateinstitute.ca/five-ways-governments-can-respond-wildfires/.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |author=Canadian Climate Institute |title=Five ways governments can respond to wildfires |date=13 August 2025 |url=https://climateinstitute.ca/five-ways-governments-can-respond-wildfires/ |access-date=23 October 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{canadianclimateinstitute2025five, author = {{Canadian Climate Institute}}, title = {{Five ways governments can respond to wildfires}}, institution = {Canadian Climate Institute}, year = {2025}, month = aug, url = {https://climateinstitute.ca/five-ways-governments-can-respond-wildfires/}, urldate = {2026-10-23}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }