B.C. wildfire season burns near decade average, far below 2023 record

British Columbia’s 2025 wildfire season burned nearly 8,900 square kilometres of land, a level close to the provincial 10-year average and significantly lower than the record-setting season seen two years earlier, according to the Ministry of Forests.

In a year-end summary, the ministry said more than 1,350 wildfires scorched about 8,864 square kilometres across the province since April 1. That total is slightly above the 10-year average of roughly 8,500 square kilometres but below the 10,811 square kilometres burned in 2024.

The impact was far less severe than in 2023, when a record 2,293 wildfires burned more than 28,400 square kilometres, forcing widespread evacuations and straining emergency resources across many Interior and northern communities.

Evacuation orders were also fewer this year, with 42 orders affecting about 2,600 properties. By comparison, there were 51 orders in 2024 and 208 during the extreme 2023 season. Despite the lower numbers, provincial officials say wildfires still disrupted communities in multiple regions of B.C.

Emergency Management Minister Kelly Greene said the province remains focused on ensuring communities have adequate support during wildfire emergencies, noting that climate change continues to intensify risks across B.C. Forests Minister Ravi Parmar added that 2025 ranked as Canada’s second-worst wildfire season overall, with B.C. deploying more wildland firefighters to assist other provinces than in any previous year.