Canada readies for Another Wildfire Season Amid Climate Change Concerns

Canada is gearing up for what could be another record-breaking wildfire season, as the government ramps up preparations by training additional firefighters.

The country's worst wildfire season to date was recorded last year, with over 15 million hectares (37 million acres) of forest consumed by flames.

With a warmer-than-usual winter compounding drought conditions in several regions, officials are warning that this year might be even more devastating.

Harjit Sajjan, the Minister for Emergency Preparedness, highlighted the challenges at a recent news conference.

He pointed out the "extreme drought conditions" in regions such as southern Alberta, British Columbia, and Southern Ontario.

The early snow melts, coupled with heat and dryness nationwide, suggest that the wildfire season could start sooner than usual. Sajjan emphasized that wildfires would continue to pose a "significant challenge" for the foreseeable future.

The government is taking proactive measures to combat the anticipated crisis. Among these, ministers have announced plans to double a tax credit for volunteer firefighters and allocate millions of dollars for the purchase of specialized equipment for provinces and territories.

These steps come in the wake of last year's catastrophic season, which saw eight firefighters lose their lives and around 230,000 people displaced from their homes. Thousands of firefighters, including international teams from South Africa and Spain, were deployed alongside armed forces to battle the blazes.