Zombie Fires Continue to Spread Across Canada

Last year’s devastating wildfires left their mark across vast areas of Canada’s forests. But even as winter set in, the threat was far from over. Deep beneath the snow, embers continued to smolder, kept alive by insulating layers of peat moss. Dubbed “zombie fires”, these underground blazes have been burning at unprecedented levels.

Over 100 zombie fires were actively smoldering across British Columbia alone in January. Firefighters watched helplessly as plumes of smoke rose from the snow-covered forests. “I’ve lived here over 15 years and have never seen anything like it,” said local firefighter Sonja Leverkus. The blazes were even visible on bitterly cold days with temperatures below -40 degrees Celsius (-40 Fahrenheit).

The Fires that Refuse to Die

So what’s fueling this alarming rise in zombie fires? The record-breaking wildfires last summer certainly played a role, leaving fires that firefighters just didn’t have the resources to fully extinguish. But the multi-year drought gripping Western Canada also shares the blame. With little snowfall to replenish moisture levels, conditions remain tinder dry even in the depths of winter. “The stage is set for a very active spring,” warns fire expert Mike Flannigan.

Now over 90 zombie fires continue to smolder beneath British Columbia. While they don’t pose an immediate threat yet, officials worry what will happen if little rain arrives by April. The dormant embers could reignite with a vengeance once exposed to oxygen, making an early start to wildfire season all but inevitable. Climate change appears to be making these slow-burning zombie fires more common. But with another hot and dry summer predicted, 2023 could surpass all records for Canada’s wildfire crisis.

The rising threat from zombie fires underscores how climate change is disrupting normal fire patterns. Even the depths of winter no longer provide a reprieve from the flames. As long as drought persists, these underground blazes may continue to haunt the forests of Western Canada long after the last embers of summer have died away. The coming months will determine just how bad this year’s wildfire season might become.