Canada experiencing rapidly increasing 'Zombie Fires'

During Canada's winter, zombie fires from last year's record-breaking wildfire season continue to burn underneath thick layers of snow. These fires are smouldering flames that burn slowly below the surface, sustained by peat moss soil and insulated by snow. Fort Nelson, British Columbia, has experienced clouds of white smoke even during snowstorms, with the snow appearing blueish-grey due to the smoke in the air. The province of British Columbia saw an unprecedented peak of 106 active zombie fires in January, raising concerns about the upcoming wildfire season. Alberta is also witnessing a spike in winter fires, with 57 burning in early February. These lingering fires are alarming to scientists, especially after Canada's devastating wildfire season in 2023, which burned over 18 million hectares of land. The high number of zombie fires in BC is attributed to a lack of resources to fully extinguish fires last autumn and a two-year drought. The fires are currently being monitored, but they could reignite if BC continues to experience minimal snow or rain in the spring. The upcoming fire season in BC is still uncertain, but with El Nino conditions expected to bring hot and dry weather to western Canada, it is anticipated to be active.