Canada at risk of another catastrophic wildfire season, government warns [Video]

Canadian officials on Wednesday warned the country could face another catastrophic wildfire season after last year’s historic fires. 

There were warmer-than-normal temperatures and widespread drought conditions across Canada this winter, officials disclosed. Weather outlooks indicate that Canada can expect higher-than-normal temperatures this spring and summer as well, setting the stage for wildfires. 

“With the heat and dryness across the country, we can expect that the wildfire season will start sooner and end later, and potentially be more explosive,” Canada Emergency Preparedness Minister Harjit Sajjan said at a press conference.

Canada’s wildfire season typically runs from May through October. The country is home to about 9% of the world’s forests. 

Last year’s wildfire season was the most destructive in recorded history, Sajjan said. More than 6,000 firesburned in Canada last summer, tearing through tens of millions of acres of land. Hundreds of thousands of Canadians evacuated from their homes …