B.C. hosting national wildfire symposium

Press Release

Nov. 25, 2025

VANCOUVER –

Updated on Nov. 25, 2025

Summary:

B.C. has invited stakeholders, experts, Indigenous partners and government representatives from throughout the country to a wildfire symposium in Vancouver on Dec. 5, 2025
Focus will be the 2025 wildfire season, wildfire technology, active forest management and national readiness for future wildfires
Includes advancing discussions on a national leadership strategy and stronger collaboration that will shape the framework of wildfire resiliency in Canada

Enhancing a national framework for wildfire resilience, including the challenges and opportunities people and communities are facing, is one intended outcome for the upcoming symposium on wildfires to be hosted in B.C.

National wildfire symposium

After the second-worst wildfire season nationally, B.C. is leading the symposium to bring together national and international experts, provincial, federal and territorial governments, as well as key industry and Indigenous partners, with the goal of sharing best practices and considering mitigation and preparation steps for 2026.

“As wildfire seasons become more severe and complex, it’s paramount that we co-ordinate our national response capabilities to protect the safety, health and economic well-being of communities from coast to coast to coast,” said Ravi Parmar, Minister of Forests. “In order to meet these challenges head on, B.C. is taking initiative by creating the opportunity for leaders and experts to come together, reflect on lessons learned and shape the path forward to help keep people throughout Canada safe.”

Canada’s forests and communities are facing increasingly severe wildfire seasons that have devastated ecosystems, displaced people and strained national capacity.

The event will include panel discussions and presentations focusing on:

the 2025 wildfire season in B.C. and throughout Canada
shared experiences in prevention, suppression, recovery and adaptation
technology’s role in wildland firefighting
strengthening intergovernmental co-ordination and national readiness

2025 B.C. wildfire summary

While less destructive than previous seasons, the 2025 wildfire season still affected nearly every region in B.C.

Since April 1, 2025, more than 1,350 wildfires burned an estimated 886,360 hectares of land in B.C. The 2025 season compared to the past five years:
2024: 1,697 wildfires, 1,081,159 hectares burned
2023: 2,293 wildfires, 2,840,104 hectares burned
2022: 1,801 wildfires, 135,235 hectares burned
2021: 1,647 wildfires, 869,300 hectares burned
2020: 670 wildfires, 14, 536 hectares burned
To date, wildfires this season resulted in 42 evacuation orders, which affected approximately 2,600 properties, and 91 evacuation alerts, which affected approximately 6,950 properties.
2024: 51 orders issued, 112 alerts
2023: 208 orders issued, 386 alerts
2022: 15 orders issued, 43 alerts
2021: 181 orders issued, 304 alerts
2020: 3 orders issued, 9 alerts
The BC Wildfire Service deployed personnel and equipment to support Yukon, Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, Ontario, Newfoundland and Labrador, Nova Scotia and California, U.S.

“Wildfires and their impacts on communities are becoming more frequent and severe across the country due to climate change,” said Kelly Greene, Minister of Emergency Management and Climate Readiness. “This symposium is about learning from the shared experiences of our neighbours and building a safer future for all Canadians.”

B.C. leading in research and innovation

B.C. is exploring new technologies, approaches and research opportunities to build safer, more resilient communities. This includes:

research into the health impacts of wildfire smoke, ash and dust to wildland firefighters
evaluating automated wildfire risk and fire-growth modelling software to enhance wildfire planning and response
studying the best ways to create FireSmart structures and communities

“We know that part of the reason B.C.’s 2025 wildfire season was less destructive than previous years is because of the investments made to better support staff, utilize new technologies, improve mitigation efforts and ensure the BC Wildfire Service has capacity year-round,” Parmar said.

Wildfires are a reality on the landscape in British Columbia and throughout Canada. The Province is continuing to build on the lessons learned by implementing wildfire predictive technology, utilizing more night-vision resources and working collaboratively with local, national and international partners to ensure a future that is more resilient.

Learn More:

To read the 2025 wildfire season summary, visit: https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/safety/wildfire-status/about-bcws/wildfire-history/wildfire-season-summary?

Canadian Wildland Fire Strategy – A 10-year review and renewed call to action: https://www.ccfm.org/releases/canadian-wildland-fire-strategy-a-10-year-review-and-renewed-call-to-action/

Wildland Fire Management Working Group – Action Plan 2021–2026: https://www.ccfm.org/releases/wildland-fire-management-working-group-action-plan-2021-2026/

Canadian Wildland Fire Prevention and Mitigation Strategy: https://www.ccfm.org/releases/canadian-wildland-fire-prevention-and-mitigation-strategy/

A backgrounder follows.

Contact:

Ministry of Forests
Media Relations
250-380-8491

BACKGROUNDER

Actions taken to better fight wildfires in B.C.

Increased hiring and year-round staff

The BC Wildfire Service has seen the number of permanent full-time staff increase by more than 56%, with further expansions planned.
Ahead of the 2025 season, BC Wildfire Service had more than 600 year-round positions to enhance operational readiness.
These positions include fire crew leaders and front-line staff who work in structure protection, prevention and risk reduction, as well as wildfire land-based recovery.

Night-vision capability

The BC Wildfire Service doubled the size of its night-vision capable fleet to four helicopters.
More Night Vision Imaging Systems (NVIS) flight officers were trained to safely support night operations.
260 missions were completed provincially, including wildfire detection, reconnaissance and water delivery.

Prevention investments

As part of Budget 2025, $40 million was allocated to the BC Wildfire Service to support programs that support resiliency, including wildfire-risk-reduction projects, cultural and prescribed fire, FireSmart initiatives, and more. This work includes:

completing nearly 200 wildfire-risk-reduction projects treating approximately 2,440 hectares of land, including 16 prescribed burns covering an additional 790 hectares
Firesmart funding allocated to 280 communities in B.C., including 132 First Nations and 148 local governments

Predictive technology

Advancements in the development of a provincewide wildfire camera network with AI-assisted smoke detection to enhance situational awareness, improve operational response and provide data for wildfire research. The joint research project with UBC Okanagan co-ordinated with communities, local government, First Nations and industry to identify potential new locations for camera monitoring throughout B.C.

Contact:

Ministry of Forests
Media Relations
250-380-8491

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