Wildfires continue to impact communities across Canada. The Government of Canada's Wildfires 2026 web page includes vital information about programs, policies and initiatives to keep Canadians informed about the ongoing wildfire situation across the country.
In Canada, an all-hazard approach is applied to all events such as major floods, wildfires, and infrastructure failures. There are four key steps involved in the emergency management process in Canada:
Step 1: Local response
- Emergencies are first managed at the local level - Municipal emergency services, local authorities, police, fire, and hospitals.
Step 2: Provincial or territorial response
- Provinces and territories provide assistance when an emergency exceeds the capacity of local authorities.
Step 3: Request for federal assistance
- Provinces and territories can submit a Request for Federal Assistance (RFA), when capacities are exceeded.
Step 4: Federal coordination and support
- RFAs for events such as wildland fires are reviewed and approved by the Minister of Emergency Management; and response is coordinated by Public Safety Canada through the Government Operations Centre (GOC) in partnership with other federal departments and non-government organizations.
The Government of Canada continues to strengthen national emergency preparedness and response capacity through investments in wildfire response resources, emergency management programs, and community resilience initiatives.
