2023 Canadian Wildfires: Zombie Fires

What causes zombie fires to emerge after the snow begins to melt?

Which of the following factors makes zombie fires particularly difficult to detect?

How many zombie fires are reported to be raging in British Columbia and Alberta combined this year?

What type of organic matter sustains zombie fires?

What has contributed to the surge of zombie fires in Canada this year compared to typical years?

Which characteristic is common to the areas where zombie fires typically occur?

What is the primary reason zombie fires are also called overwintering fires?

In which regions outside Canada are zombie fires also commonly found?

2023 Canadian Wildfires: Zombie Fires

2023 Canadian wildfire season was the worst on record, with over 6,500 blazes scorching over 48 million acres, a 170% increase from 2022.
Wildfires appeared to have calmed with the arrival of snow, but many were not fully extinguished.
"Zombie" fires, also known as holdover or overwintering fires, are wildfires that rekindle after seeming to be extinguished, remaining dormant under the snow.
These fires are sustained by organic matter like peat.
They can reignite when the ground is struck by lightning or farmers set controlled burns.
The wildfires can burn underground for weeks, months, or even years.
Zombie fires are annual occurrences in BC and Alberta, typically no more than 15 per year. However, 2023 has seen a major surge, with over 93 in BC and over 55 in Alberta.
A lack of snow and unusually warm winters have enabled the fires to persist beneath the snowpack, allowing them to continue smoldering.
These underground, largely flameless fires spread undetected and are challenging to discover in remote and thick forest areas.
Detection is hampered by frozen, snow-covered ground, that hinders firefighter access and monitoring.
Cold coniferous forests, thick with easily flammable needles and vegetation, are vulnerable to zombie fires, as seen in BC, Alberta, Alaska, Northern Europe, and Siberia.

Explore the unprecedented wildfire season in Canada for 2023, where over 6,500 fires ravaged nearly 48 million acres. This quiz delves into 'zombie fires'—wildfires that reignite after appearing extinguished and the ecological factors contributing to their persistence. Test your knowledge on this urgent environmental issue.