Fire crews are being deployed weeks ahead of the usual season peak as dry conditions take hold across large parts of the country’s western and central regions.
Provincial emergency management officials say this is the third consecutive year the season has started early, adding pressure to budgets already strained by prior fire years.
“We are budgeting for a bad season every year now. It’s the responsible thing to do,” one provincial emergency management director said.
Federal disaster assistance arrangements are under review, with several provinces requesting faster reimbursement timelines for firefighting and evacuation costs.
