Ontario’s wildfire season officially began April 1.
In preparation for the 2026 fire season, the province says it has added an additional 68 permanent staff and increased compensation for wildland firefighters, pilots, and aircraft maintenance engineers.
“We are ready to protect communities from wildland fires, with all the necessary resources in place,” said Mike Harris, Minister of Natural Resources. “Our government stands behind the wildland firefighters, pilots and support staff that make up our frontline response and we will ensure they have everything they need for the upcoming fire season.”
In addition to new staffing measures, Ontario and Canada are investing in projects through the Wildfire Resilient Futures Initiative that will help enhance local training, education and outreach programs. According to officials, these measures will help ensure communities across the province are equipped with the tools and resources needed to prevent and mitigate wildland fire risk.
“Our government is equipping communities with the resources and tools they need to prepare for and respond decisively to natural disasters and emergencies, including wildland fires,” said Jill Dunlop, Minister of Emergency Preparedness and Response. “Wi will continue to work closely with municipalities, First Nation communities, and emergency management partners to ensure people across Ontario are safe, practiced and prepared this wildfire season.”
According to provincial officials, approximately 50 per cent of all wildland fires are caused by humans. These are some actions you can take to help reduce the risk of forest fires:
- Before starting an outdoor fire, check the interactive map at ontario.ca/ForestFires and ensure you are aware of the fire hazard and restrictions in place in your area.
- Ensure campfires do not get too big and are fully extinguished at the end of the evening or prior to leaving the site. Have tools and water on hand to control outdoor fires.
- To learn more about how to prepare your community or property to reduce the risk or impact of a wildland fire, please visit how to prevent forest fires and ontario.ca/FireSmart.
