It has been another challenging summer for wildfires in northern Ontario, with the latest update from the province stating there have been 687 fires so far in 2026. That’s up from the 442 reported in 2025, and well above the 10-year average of 481. …So what’s the cause of the surge? The very dry weather seen throughout much of the north this summer is certainly at the top of the list, but a near decade long surge of the spruce budworm may have been a significant factor. …The spruce budworm is one of the most destructive natural pests in spruce and fir forests across North America. …This can cause large swaths of trees in the canopy to dry up and turn a reddish-brown colour. …Jean-Noel Candau is a research scientist says “Yes, there is a correlation between spruce budworm damage and the frequency of fire.”
