Â鶹ÒùÔº

As the summer heat intensifies, people across Canada are facing the full brunt of wildfire season. and properties are as fires grow in size.

Over the past decade, wildfires in Canada have broken , including the area burned in the largest single fire in recent history.

More frequent fires are unsettling communities, causing rapid changes to ecosystems and having a on society and our economy.

Increased wildfire risk is driven by a , including more (high temperatures, low humidity and powerful winds) made worse by climate change, , the accumulation of fuels like trees and other organic materials on the landscape and changing land-use and settlement patterns.

Our new research from the at the University of Victoria explores how —fire that maximizes ecological benefits and minimizes risks to communities—can help build .

What are beneficial fires?

Fire is a natural, necessary and inevitable part of many ecosystems in Canada. Historically, wildfire created a mosaic of diverse ecosystems and habitat conditions, which supported healthy watersheds and contributed to the cultures and livelihoods of Indigenous Peoples.

Beneficial fire typically includes Indigenous , prescribed fire and managed wildfire. These fires are managed for their ecological, cultural and community benefits, while minimizing adverse effects.

One reason we're seeing more catastrophic fires now is because of a , which can allow fuels to accumulate. When fuels accumulate, the risk from wildfire increases.

In certain places and contexts, suppression remains the appropriate approach. It will continue to play a critical role in keeping communities safe and conserving ecosystem services like clean water and special places. But suppression alone is not viable or desirable. Instead, a suite of proactive actions from a variety of stakeholders is required.

In British Columbia, Indigenous communities are returning cultural burning to their territories. , with support from the BC Wildfire Service and local fire departments, was credited with helping save lives and homes from the St. Mary's wildfire in summer 2024.

Later in 2024, portions of a were allowed to burn while firefighting efforts focused on the part of the fire that threatened the community. This approach protected the village of Witset while still allowing the fire to create ecological benefits.

Despite increasing awareness that some fires are beneficial, community opposition to cultural and prescribed fires—as well as to letting wildfires burn—persists. This opposition stems from a longstanding fears of fire and the very real threats posed to communities, people and property.

A whole-of-society approach

Until people feel safe from wildfire, the ability to return fire to the landscape will be limited and pressure for maximum suppression will likely continue. However, when people feel safe in their homes and communities, they may be more likely to accept more beneficial fire on the landscape.

Risk reduction programs, , take a holistic approach to wildfire resilience and include practical measures proven to reduce property loss.

Homeowners who live near fire-prone ecosystems (referred to as the ) can take simple actions, such as removing flammable material within 1.5 meters of buildings, while communities can plan effective evacuation routes.

Experience in indicates that voluntary measures, like FireSmart, are more effective when combined with mandatory minimum standards for fire-resistant building construction, vegetation management and landscaping.

Reducing risk and increasing beneficial fires requires coordinated action from a diverse array of parties. For example, creating home-hardening requirements demands updated provincial building codes and local government plans that consider wildfire resilience.

When a diverse array of entities is required to work towards a common goal, coordination and collaboration are vital and a is required. This type of approach fosters innovation, local agency and broader accountability—ultimately resulting in better outcomes on the ground.

There are calls for this approach at national and international levels. Recent examples include the Canadian Council of Forest Ministers' and the .

Diverse actions needed

Crown governments have historically worked in a top-down wildfire management model: provincial and territorial governments are in charge and select partners, such as industry, have been engaged to carry out specific actions.

We are beginning to see a shift to greater sharing of responsibilities, partnerships, recognition of Indigenous authorities and increased local action. For example, B.C. has committed to

As Canadians face another intense wildfire season, in which we've already experienced loss of life and property, meaningful action across all of society is essential.

Provincial governments must work in collaboration with Indigenous, local and federal governments, as well as industry, civil society, practitioners, local experts and communities.

Individuals can take action to reduce the risk to their homes by managing the vegetation around their homes and using more fire-resistant building materials. Communities can engage in . And governments at all levels can facilitate changes in how we manage our landscape to increase beneficial fires.

Taken together, these diverse actions across all of society will be crucial for protecting people and ecosystems as we all learn to live with fire.

This article is republished from under a Creative Commons license. Read the .