Wildfires worldwide · Country
Canada: wildfires seen from space, 2000-2026
From November 2000 to 15 October 2026, NASA's MODIS satellites detected 1,756,249 vegetation fires in this country.
- Fires detected since 2000
- 1,756,249
- World rank
- #16 of 223
- Share of the world
- 1.6%
- Record year
- 2023
- 20-year change (Aqua)
- +132%
Fires detected per year
Terra from November 2000, Aqua from July 2002. 2026 runs to 15 October.
Year by year data
| Year | Detections |
|---|---|
| 2001 | 7,717 |
| 2002 | 28,974 |
| 2003 | 52,036 |
| 2004 | 76,023 |
| 2005 | 32,985 |
| 2006 | 36,010 |
| 2007 | 34,117 |
| 2008 | 32,678 |
| 2009 | 28,568 |
| 2010 | 52,687 |
| 2011 | 39,001 |
| 2012 | 40,112 |
| 2013 | 67,760 |
| 2014 | 79,125 |
| 2015 | 73,888 |
| 2016 | 26,928 |
| 2017 | 95,064 |
| 2018 | 63,500 |
| 2019 | 40,421 |
| 2020 | 12,100 |
| 2021 | 96,858 |
| 2022 | 34,896 |
| 2023 | 323,767 |
| 2024 | 147,303 |
| 2025 | 156,111 |
| 2026 | 76,776 |
Fire season: average detections per month, 2003-2025
In short
2023 is the year with the most detections (323,767); the record month is July 2023, with 80,370.
The fire season is concentrated between June and August: these three months hold 73% of an average year's detections.
Against 2003-2012, yearly detections in 2016-2025 rose by 132% (Aqua satellite). In 2016-2021, before Aqua's orbit drift, the change was +27%.
The average radiative power of a detection (Aqua satellite) went from 105.4 MW in 2003-2012 to 134.6 MW in 2016-2025.
In 2026 (to 15 October): 76,776 detections.
Method and sourcesFrequently asked questions
Canada: frequently asked questions
Canada: how many wildfires are there each year?
On average 71,389 vegetation fires detected a year by the MODIS satellites in 2003-2025, with a high of 323,767 in 2023.
Canada: are wildfires increasing?
Against 2003-2012, yearly detections in 2016-2025 rose by 132% (Aqua satellite). In 2016-2021, before Aqua's orbit drift, the change was +27%.
Canada: when is the fire season?
The fire season is concentrated between June and August: these three months hold 73% of an average year's detections.
Canada: what was the worst year for wildfires?
2023, with 323,767 detections. The record month was July 2023, with 80,370.
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