Following several record-breaking wildfire seasons in B.C., 2025 has brought some relief for the Southeast Fire Centre, with year-to-date statistics showing one of the quietest fire seasons in recent memory.
As of the end of August, the fire centre said it had responded to 149 wildfires in the region, down from 318 in 2024.
That number is also well below the region’s five-year average of 334 and the 10-year average of 344.
The total area burned this year is also notably lower – 372 hectares compared to 72,900 in 2024.
Lightning still leading cause
About 69 per cent of the fires in the region this year have been lightning-caused and 31 per cent human-caused.
These statistics are relatively in line with historical trends, although the fire centre noted lightning has not played as dominant a role in 2025 compared with the 85 per cent figure in 2024.
Reasons behind the slowdown
Southeast Fire Centre information officer Meghan Graceffo credited the quieter fire season to favourable weather conditions that helped keep fuels moist.
“The biggest factor that contributed to a quieter fire season in the southeast was the significant rainfalls we had every two to three weeks. This kept fuels relatively moist and the grass greener compared to previous years. This delays, and can prevent, curing,” she said.
Another key factor was the absence of the “four corners high” weather system, which Graceffo explained typically brings hot, dry, desert-like conditions from the United States into southwest B.C.
“The four-corners high, which usually resides over the four corners of Utah, Colorado, Arizona and New Mexico in July, and sends hot, dry, desert-like air into southeast B.C., was not present except for brief time periods this summer,” she said.
Shifting lightning patterns
While the total number of wildfires in the region has been down this year, some areas did see increased lightning activity, which Graceffo noted was unusual.
“This year, most systems have come from the west or northwest and regions that don’t usually see much thunderstorm activity, like the Boundary, have become more susceptible,” she said.
Meanwhile, areas that are typically more lightning-prone – such as the Selkirk, Monashee, Valhalla and Rocky Mountain ranges – have experienced shorter dry periods with less warm, moist air coming from subtropical regions, leading to fewer thunderstorms forming.
Looking ahead
Graceffo said 2025 has been a recovery year following extreme drought conditions experienced provincewide from fall 2022 through spring 2025 – but the season is not over yet.
Drought codes and the current buildup index are still below normal compared with historical values for this time of year, meaning the public needs to remain vigilant.
“Fire season is nearing its end, but it’s still very much fire season and just because it’s been quieter doesn’t mean there is no risk. We ask, as always, for the public to remain mindful and diligent when engaging in any activities that could cause a wildfire,” said Graceffo.
Across the province, wildfire activity has stayed under the 50th percentile for much of 2025, reflecting stronger fuel moisture and a milder season than in recent years.
Graceffo added the slower year is likely just a temporary reprieve and not a sign of long-term relief.
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