You’d think with the snow piling up in most of the country, we’d finally be done with the smoke and the stress. It’s January 2026. The temperature in parts of northern Manitoba and British Columbia is hovering around $-20$ or $-30$ degrees. But if you’re asking are there still wildfires in canada right now, the answer isn’t a simple "no." It’s actually more of a "yes, but they’re hiding."
Honestly, it’s a bit eerie. We’ve seen a shift over the last couple of years where the traditional "fire season" doesn't really have a clean end date anymore. 2025 was the second-worst season on record, with over 8.3 million hectares burned. And while the towering walls of flame are gone for the moment, the fire itself hasn't necessarily left the building.
The Reality of Zombie Fires in 2026
Basically, we’re dealing with what scientists call "overwintering fires." You might have heard them called zombie fires. They’re exactly what they sound like: fires that refuse to die.
In northeastern B.C. and parts of the Prairies, these fires have dug deep into the organic soil—the peat. Peat is basically pure carbon. Once it catches, it can smoulder underground for months, insulated by the very snow that you’d think would put it out.
As of mid-January 2026, the British Columbia Wildfire Service and Manitoba Wildfire Service are still tracking dozens of these active points. For instance, in Manitoba, there were roughly 66 active fires still on the books as the year turned. They aren't threatening your house right now, but they're breathing.
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Why the Snow Isn't Putting Them Out
You’ve probably wondered why a meter of snow doesn't just soak the ground and kill the spark. It's about the depth. Mike Flannigan, a pretty well-known wildfire researcher at Thompson Rivers University, has pointed out that these fires can burn meters below the surface.
Snow is actually a great insulator. It keeps the ground from freezing solid, which allows the peat to keep smouldering away in a low-oxygen environment.
The real danger comes in the spring.
When the snow melts and the winds pick up in March or April, those underground embers can hit dry grass and "re-emerge." That’s how the 2025 season got such a terrifyingly fast start in Alberta. We’re potentially looking at the same cycle for 2026 because of the persistent drought in the West.
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Current Numbers and Stats
If you look at the Canadian Interagency Forest Fire Centre (CIFFC) reports right now, the numbers look low compared to July, but they aren't zero.
- British Columbia: Roughly 20 active fires are still being monitored in the Prince George Fire Centre area.
- Manitoba: Dozens of fires in the north are still classified as "under control" or "being monitored" rather than "out."
- National Impact: While the 2025 total hit over 6,100 fires, several hundred of those never actually reached "out" status before the first snowfall.
It's weird to think about a fire burning under a snowbank while you're out shoveling your driveway. But for people in communities like Fort Nelson or Lynn Lake, this is a very real anxiety. They know that what happens underground in January dictates how many evacuations might happen in May.
What to Watch For in the Coming Months
The "fire season" in Canada now officially starts as early as March 1 in some provinces. That's only weeks away.
Meteorologists at Environment and Climate Change Canada are currently watching a weak La Niña. Usually, that means a colder, snowier winter for the West, which is good news. More snow means more moisture when things melt. However, if that snow melts too fast or if we get a "brown spring" (warm temperatures with no rain), those zombie fires will wake up early.
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We also have to talk about the 2025 legacy. Last year, over 85,000 people had to leave their homes. The smoke didn't just stay in Canada; it choked out cities across the U.S. East Coast and Midwest again. The sheer scale of the 2025 burn means there is a lot of "fuel" that is partially burned and ready to go again if a spark hits.
Practical Steps for the 2026 Season
Since are there still wildfires in canada is a question that affects everything from summer travel to insurance rates, it’s worth being proactive.
- Check the AQHI: Don't wait for the sky to turn orange. Use the Air Quality Health Index (AQHI) apps to monitor particulate matter in your local area, especially if you have asthma.
- FireSmart Your Property: If you live near a wooded area, use the winter months to clear dead brush or "ladder fuels" (low-hanging branches) that survived last season.
- Monitor the CIFFC Dashboard: The national situation reports start daily updates again in the spring. It’s the best source for "real-time" data that isn't sensationalized.
- Support Local Crews: Many volunteer fire departments are exhausted after back-to-back record years. Check in on local fundraising or recruitment drives.
The smoke might be gone for now, but the ground is still warm in places you wouldn't expect. Staying informed about these overwintering fires is the best way to make sure we aren't caught off guard when the ground thaws.