World
Canada: 34,000 lightning strikes in one week ignite British Columbia during record-breaking wildfire season
Some 34,000 lightning strikes hit British Columbia in one week, triggering 90 active fires and 25 evacuation orders as of July 24, 2026, according to The Guardian. Northwestern Ontario logged 139 active fires, 32 of which are out of control. Overall, 2.95 million hectares burned across Canada in 2026, exceeding the ten-year average of 2.55 million. Prime Minister Mark Carney called the season one of the most intense ever recorded. Ottawa is mobilizing over 5,300 firefighters and approximately 300 aircraft; Mexico is to send up to 200 reinforcements.