Significant risk: How will wildfires spread over the next two months? [Video]

A cooler start to spring in much of Canada has meant that active fires and area burned in wildfires is within “average parameters,”  but government officials are warning that “the risk of damaging wildfires remains significant.”

This year, a total of 730 fires have been recorded, with 1.47 million hectares burned. There are currently 87 active fires across Canada, with six out of control, 15 being held and 66 that have been brought under control.

Emergency Preparedness Minister Harjit Sajjan said the government is urging Canadians to be prepared and is monitoring certain key areas carefully. “Key areas of concern include B.C. Interior, northeastern B.C., which have high combustible material, (and) northern Alberta, with several small and out-of-control fires. Southern Northwest Territories are entering a drier period post thaw,” he said.

Julienne Morissette, director of wildland fire research at Natural Resources Canada, said, “Currently, there are no fires of priority on …