Satellite images of the forest fires in northern Alberta and Saskatchewan have shown the extent of the wildfires that have displaced thousands of people this week. The National Aeronautics and Space Administration’s Aqua satellite showed plumes of smoke stretching from multiple points hundreds of kilometres to the southeast. Actively burning areas are outlined in red, while forests appear dark…

Forest fire season is well underway across Ontario’s northern regions, and firefighters typically take advantage of the patchwork of lakes and rivers to draw water to battle the blazes. Sometimes, however, they literally fight fire with fire. Equipment like pumps, hoses and water bombers are common tools of the trade, but so is aerial ignition,…

Has the emerald ash borer finally met its match? In the latest attempt to halt the beetle in its bark tracks, scientists are introducing a non-stinging wasp to wage biological warfare against the nasty little critter that threatens to lay waste to entire forest canopies, one leafy ash tree at a time. Although scientists admit…

Smoke from northern Saskatchewan wildfires is blanketing much of the province today. The smoke has prompted health warnings from Environment Canada.

There is “no relief coming in the immediate future” for northern communities affected by forest fires, the provincial government says. “It’s fairly obvious we’re in a significant forest fire season. We’ve been days into and we have days to come,” said Colin King, deputy commissioner of the province’s emergency management and fire safety branch. As…