Hamilton, ON, June 13, 2025– Canada is poised to face a severe wildfire season, driven by rising temperatures and dry conditions. The federal government has released its wildfire season outlook noting that over 200 wildfires are currently active, with over 100 burning out of control. More than 3.7 million hectares have already burned this year.
Forecasts from Natural Resources Canada point to elevated fire risk through August, with the most significant threat in southern British Columbia and northwestern Ontario.
Wildfires are damaging communities, ecosystems, and infrastructures, and are affecting air quality and public health. McMaster University has a range of experts available to speak on wildfire-related issues – from fire behaviour and ecological risk to health impacts and community resilience.
Wildfire spread and infrastructure risk
Ramla Qureshi, assistant professor of civil engineering, can speak to how wildfires spread from natural landscapes into urban areas and the risks they pose to buildings and infrastructure. Her research focuses on how structures respond to extreme events, including fires, earthquakes, and blasts, and how to design for greater resilience in the face of these growing threats. quresr11@mcmaster.ca
Greg Verkaik is a PhD candidate and member of the McMaster Ecohydrology Lab. He specializes in wildfire science and peatland ecology and can speak about the role of peatlands in wildfire behavior and the impact of climate change on fire risk. His research is grounded in extensive fieldwork across Western Canada and focuses on practical solutions for wildfire mitigation and ecosystem resilience. verkaikg@mcmaster.ca
Health impacts of wildfires
Kevan Mehta, a pediatric respirologist and assistant professor in the department of Pediatrics, can speak to the health impacts wildfire smoke has on the lungs. Mehta says wildfire smoke can be particularly problematic for people with asthma. mehtak24@mcmaster.ca
Itai Malkin, assistant clinical professor in the department of Health Research Methods, Evidence, and Impact, can speak to the dangers of wildfire smoke. Malkin can discuss how these small inhalable particles can get deep into the lungs, causing irritation and inflammation. malkini@mcmaster.ca
Mental health impacts of wildfires
Margaret McKinnon, a PTSD expert and a professor with the department of Psychiatry & Behavioural Neurosciences, can speak to the emotional and mental health impact of wildfires. McKinnon helped create the CanEMERG website, which brings together important supports and tools that can help Canadians assess their current mental health situation and navigate to free, publicly available assistance. mckinno@mcmaster.ca
We live in an age of increasing wildfire disasters because more of us are living in places where wildfires and human development collide. Right now, fast-moving wildfires are forcing mass evacuations and destroying homes across Manitoba, Saskatchewan and British Columbia, where entire communities are under threat.
A love of the outdoors and a deep desire to make a meaningful impact on communities affected by climate change keeps Greg Verkaik going back to Western Canada. The PhD student studies peatlands and their role in wildfires. Climate change isn’t an abstract concept in his research, it’s something he’s been seeing and experiencing in the landscapes he’s visited since 2018 as part of this work.
Plumes of wildfire smoke can carry contaminants hundreds of kilometres, leaving a lingering toxic footprint that has the potential to be re-released into the environment, McMaster researchers show.