This year’s wildfire season in Ontario scorched nearly 6,000 square kilometres of land, a dramatic escalation compared to recent years and a stark departure from the provincial average. The scale of devastation paints a troubling picture of increasingly intense fire seasons.
Between April and October, a total of 643 wildfires erupted across the province, consuming over 5,976 square kilometres of forest. This represents a significant jump from the previous year, where 480 fires burned through approximately 900 square kilometres.
Looking back a decade, Ontario typically experiences around 712 wildfires annually, burning an average of 2,100 square kilometres. The current season’s figures shatter that historical norm, highlighting a disturbing trend.
Nationally, Canada’s 2025 wildfire season already ranks as the second-worst on record, with fires ravaging an astonishing 72,000 square kilometres – an area comparable in size to the entire province of New Brunswick.
The underlying cause is increasingly clear: climate change. Scientists directly link the escalating frequency and intensity of these fires to the continued burning of fossil fuels and the resulting shifts in weather patterns.
Despite the early and aggressive start to the season, coordinated efforts from firefighting crews, local municipalities, and Indigenous communities helped to mount a rapid response. These collaborative actions were crucial in mitigating the worst potential outcomes.
Ontario didn’t confine its support to within its borders, proactively deploying fire crews to assist in battling blazes in other provinces facing similar challenges. This interprovincial cooperation underscored the widespread nature of the crisis.
