07/15/2026
If you woke up to the sun being hidden by some strange yellow skies this morning, here’s an explanation from Frontenac Arch Biosphere
There are currently over 300 active wildfires in Ontario and Quebec right now. While none of them are within the FAB Region, they are affecting it and communities across the country. 🔥
You can see the Government of Canada’s map of active fires here: https://cwfis.cfs.nrcan.gc.ca/en/
Smoke from these fires has been making its way across the south-eastern part of Canada and within the FAB Region. If you need to be outside please check the Ontario Air Quality Index: https://www.airqualityontario.com/aqhi/
These fires cause tragic loss of homes, habitat and lives. Accelerating climate change, largely from the burning of fossil fuels, makes wildfires bigger, hotter, and more destructive (Climate Atlas of Canada n.d.). With Canada warming twice as fast as the global average (Government of Canada 2019), and home to more than a quarter of the world’s boreal forests, the country is experiencing this consequence of global heating firsthand -
“Canada has entered an era of megafires, making wildfires a structural threat to national infrastructure and community safety. Yet, despite bearing a massive burden, comprising only 5% of Canada’s population but accounting for 42% of wildfire evacuations, Indigenous communities and their highly trained firefighters are routinely sidelined by rigid provincial deployment rules.
A research report from the National Indigenous Fire Safety Council highlights how Canada cannot build true wildfire resilience without centering Indigenous leadership, governance, and traditional fire stewardship. From the catastrophic, preventable losses at Little Red River Cree Nation to the critical equipment shortages in Fort Good Hope, the message for fire chiefs and emergency managers is clear: excluding local expertise is an operational failure.” - National Indigenous Fire Safety Council
📸 Mississippi Madawaska Land Trust
