Grand Canyon National Park in the United States is not the only place that is currently affected by wildfires that are out of control, as parts of Canada are also being scorched in the summer of 2025.
Wildfires Out of Control in Canada Summer 2025: Travel Alert
The following travel alert was issued by the United States Embassy and Consulates in Canada back on Wednesday, June 11, 2025:
Event: 2025 Wildfire Season: U.S. Mission Canada
Location: Throughout Canada
Event: In Canada, wildfires are common in forested and grassland regions from May to September. In 2024, Canada was affected by record-breaking wildfires affecting all 13 provinces and territories. We urge U.S. citizens visiting or living in Canada to be aware of wildfire conditions in their area and follow guidance from local authorities. Please see the list of resources and emergency services below to help prepare for wildfire season in Canada.
Actions to Take:
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- Dial 911 for immediate assistance from police, ambulance, or fire services in Canada.
- Be Ready for Crisis and Disaster Abroad: Take steps to prepare yourself for a potential crisis if you are traveling or living outside of the United States.
- Get Prepared for Wildfires: Follow the government of Canada’s guidance on what to do before, during, and after a wildfire.
- Review the government of Canada’s coordinated Wildfire page for information on the emergency response, support, and health measures for current wildfire events across Canada.
Provincial and Territorial Wildfire Information
Each province and territory responds to wildfires in cooperation with local authorities. Most provinces and territories have information online on the wildfire situation in their area.
For Assistance:
To contact the U.S. Embassy or Consulates General in Canada, please find the location closest to you here.
With the exceptions of the provinces of Québec, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island, and the territory of Nunavut, dozens of wildfires are currently labeled as out of control in Canada, according to an interactive map of Natural Resources Canada — most of them occurring in the western half of the country. Some parts of the northern United States have experienced smoke which emanated from some of the wildfires that are out of control in Canada.
One of the most devastating wildfires in recent history in Canada impacted Fort McMurray in Alberta: when the wildfires were finally declared under control on Tuesday, July 5, 2016, approximately 1,500,000 acres of land in Alberta and Saskatchewan were burned; and greater than 2,550 homes and buildings were destroyed in what to this day is still the costliest disaster in the history of Canada at 5.96 billion dollars. Many people lost everything to those wildfires; and recovery still has not been completed in some areas. Please read the article for more details on just how dire was the situation.
Final Boarding Call
Although the wildfires may currently have minimal to no impact on commercial aviation, your plans could be affected or altered if the western half of Canada is part of your itinerary this summer — especially as you have unlimited opportunities to visit any of the national parks of Parks Canada from coast to coast without having to pay any admission fee through Tuesday, September 2, 2025.
May the wildfires in Canada not affect your travel plans for the summer of 2025. Please travel safely.
Source: Natural Resources Canada.
