Donnie Creek fire

Western Canada had been in a decades-long warming and drying trend, influenced by anthropogenic climate change. An extremely dry and warm fall in 2022 caused very low moisture levels in the spring. A heat wave in May in northern British Columbia's boreal forests brought temperatures 6–10 degrees Celsius above normal levels. == Ignition and spread ==

The fire was discovered on May 12, and was determined to have been caused by a lightning strike. It exhibited rapid growth; at one point, the fire grew by even after receiving of rain. By June 18th, the fire surpassed the 2017 Plateau fire to become the largest in the province's history. The fire continued to burn throughout the summer and fall, and smouldered underground during the winter. In May 2024, the Donnie Creek fire reignited as a "holdover fire", and would continue to burn into the summer of 2024. It was not declared out until August 30, 2024, more than a year after starting. == Impact ==

Hundreds of residents were ordered to evacuate due to the fire. Communities in the Peace River Regional District, including Prespatou and Pink Mountain, received evacuation orders from the wildfire service. The fire burned in the Montney Basin, an area of natural gas deposits. The area has extensive oil and gas operations and infrastructure. The fire affected 18 different fracking operations, causing companies to remove staff and shut down activities. In late July, firefighter Zak Muise was killed after an accident involving his all-terrain vehicle north of Fort Nelson. He was one of six wildland firefighters killed in the line of duty in B.C. in 2023. == References ==