The 2023 Canadian wildfire season was unprecedented in its scale and severity, burning approximately 15 million hectares—seven times the national average. This study investigates the contributing factors, including extreme weather conditions, landscape legacies, and the resulting societal and ecological impacts. The findings highlight the role of prolonged periods of extreme fire weather, fueled by early snowmelt, prolonged drought, and frequent atmospheric blocking events. The study also underscores the significant societal consequences, including widespread evacuations, structural damage, and air quality issues, as well as the long-term ecological implications for forest recovery and biodiversity.

Piyush Jain, Quentin E. Barthelemy, David C. Castellanos-Acuna, Jean-Michel Chen, Patrick E. Higuera, John R. Lyons, Kristina A. McAlpine, Robert S. Scheller, Sylvie Thibault, Emilie Whitman, Michael A. Parisien, Yves Boulanger, Raphael D. Chavardès, Michael Flannigan, Marie-Pierre Girardin, Christopher C. Hanes, David K. Thompson, Xuhui Wang