2023 Canadian Wildfires: Zombie Fires Overview

What is the primary factor enabling zombie fires to remain active after winter?

What led to the significant increase in the number of zombie fires in British Columbia and Alberta in 2023?

How does the snow typically influence the underground fires during winter?

What is the characteristic feature of zombie fires that makes them hard to detect?

In 2023, how many zombie fires were reported in British Columbia and Alberta combined?

Besides Canada, which regions are also prone to zombie fires?

What conclusion can be drawn about the conditions that lead to zombie fires?

Under what circumstances do zombie fires typically re-emerge after winter?

2023 Canadian Wildfires: Zombie Fires

2023 Canadian wildfire season was the worst on record, with over 6,500 blazes scorching more than 48 million acres, a 170% increase over 2022.
Fires appeared to die down with the arrival of snow, but many were not fully extinguished.
"Zombie" fires (also known as holdover or overwintering fires) reignite when warmer weather melts the snow.
These fires burn underground for weeks, months, or years, fueled by organic matter like peat.
They are active under the ground where they are maintained by highly flammable fuels like peat and other organic matter.
Ignition can occur from lightning or controlled burns by farmers.
Canada's Wildfire Service emphasizes that exceptional dryness in these fuels allows the fires to smolder deeply in duff layers and logs underground.
Zombie fires are a yearly occurrence in BC and AB, typically with fewer than 15 annually but significantly higher this year.
Currently estimated at 93 in BC and over 55 in AB.
Normally, the melting snow extinguishes hidden flames, but lower than usual precipitation and warmer winters in BC and AB allow the fires to remain active.
Detection is difficult, as the fires are often in remote areas and are mainly flameless.
Frozen ground also hinders firefighting efforts.
Zombie fires are not unique to Canada, occurring also in Alaska, Northern Europe, and Siberia, where the combination of a thick layer of vegetation and cool coniferous forests fosters such fires.

Explore the record-breaking wildfire season in Canada for 2023, which saw a dramatic increase in fires and the emergence of 'zombie' fires. These hidden blazes, fueled by organic matter, reignite with warmer weather after initially seeming extinguished. Learn about their impact on the environment and the factors contributing to their prevalence this year.