Canada's (still) Blazing: Taking Stock of the 2026 Wildfires

While now often out of the headlines, huge swaths of land in western Canada remain ablaze, as the embers of hundreds of other fires seen across the country this year continue to burn. The smoke pollution effects, large-scale evacuation of people and huge loss of forests are very clear to see. There are many longer-term consequences of the fires too, as we’ll see in this episode.

We examine the 2026 wildfires in Canada–particularly those in British Columbia–explaining causes, impacts, firefighting challenges, and the wide environmental and health consequences that have reached cities across North America. We look at the emergency response, risks to firefighters and communities, long-term ecological and climate implications, and practical adaptation measures to reduce future harm.

In particular, we’ll ask whether those who are saying that the severity of the fires seen this year are the new normal are right, and whether there’s anything we can do as we hold intention and pray to minimize the dire consequences for many thousands of people.

This isn’t the first time we’ve had the awesome implications of a wildfire emergency in our sights. Yet, with every fire that blazes, we’re being reminded that those of us who believe that intention and prayer can make a difference have some serious work to do.

Intentions and prayers start at 24 minutes 49 seconds.

Suggested Intention Focus for this week

This week, as we reflect on the many immediate and longer-term consequences of the fires now blazing in western Canada, we suggest holding as our main intention:

We give thanks for the many firefighters and emergency responders who put their lives in danger to contain and extinguish the wild fires blazing in British Colombia, as well as in efforts to evacuate people and protect life, and will that they will be surrounded in protective light as they go about their work.

Please join us in holding this.

Chapter markers:

00:00:00            Introduction

00:02:05            Canada’s Wildfire Crisis

00:06:17            What Sparks the Fires?

00:08:46            Fighting Wildfires on the Ground

00:12:05            Firefighters Face Extreme Risk

00:15:14            Smoke and Evacuation Impacts

00:19:27            Ecological Fallout of Fires

00:21:42            Is This the New Normal?

00:24:49            Intentions and Prayers

Sources referenced in this episode:

https://www.canada.ca/en/public-safety-canada/news/2026/07/the-government-of-canada-provides-an-update-regarding-the-2026-wildfire-season--july-update.html

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cx25dkwk3e3o

https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/need-to-know-bc-wildfires-aug-12-9.7304156

https://www.nytimes.com/article/canada-wildfires-2026.html

https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/what-you-need-to-know-about-bc-wildfires-august-6-9.7297924

https://www.ctvnews.ca/vancouver/article/rcmp-warn-of-misinformation-circulating-about-wildfire-cause/

https://vancouver.citynews.ca/2026/08/07/police-in-b-c-launch-wildfires-arson-investigations-in-interior-and-metro-vancouver/

https://www.sciencenews.org/article/what-blame-canada-wildfires-toxic-smoke

https://www.canada.ca/en/public-safety-canada/news/2026/07/wildfire-information-and-seasonal-preparedness-tips-for-canadians.html

https://cwfis.cfs.nrcan.gc.ca/datamart/metadata/activefires

https://www.dw.com/en/canada-british-columbia-wildfires-burning-out-of-control/a-78296928

https://www.canada.ca/en/health-canada/services/publications/healthy-living/wildfire-smoke-health.html

https://www.canada.ca/en/health-canada/services/publications/healthy-living/human-health-effects-wildfire-smoke.html

https://www.canada.ca/en/services/health/healthy-living/environment/air-quality/wildfire-smoke/human-health-effects-report-summary.html

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/40931077/

https://www.canada.ca/en/services/environment/weather/climatechange/climate-plan/national-adaptation-strategy/action-plan.html

https://natural-resources.canada.ca/forests-forestry/wildland-fires/wildfire-resilient-futures-initiative

https://parks.canada.ca/nature/science/conservation/feu-fire/reduire-reducingtlook.html

Join us in person for intention holding:   

https://www.legacylabyrinthproject.org/events-1 Labyrinth Activist Network Zoom calls  

https://insighttimer.com/cliverj Daily intention holding with Clive on Insight Timer.  

Our websites: 

www.heartfulimpact.com/   Our show website.  

https://globalhealingresponse.com/ Global Healing Response ~ Offers a wealth of prayers, suggested practices and prompts in response to environmental catastrophe, conflict, and other world events.  

https://www.legacylabyrinthproject.org/ Legacy Labyrinth Project ~ Creating global energetic connections through the labyrinth; inspiring active intention sending using the labyrinth via labyrinth activism.  

https://www.clivejohnsonministry.com/ Clive Johnson Ministry ~ Events and offerings aimed at building beloved community, including weekly energy holding vigils and Power of Eight group.  

https://insighttimer.com/cliverj ~ Daily intention holding.  

Impact! Is presented by Ellen Bintz and Clive Johnson. It is produced by Impact Productions.  

Our show content is hosted by Podbean and available from all major podcast platforms.  

Our theme music is by Chris Collins. indiemusicbox.com.  

Our logo artwork is by AltoClassic (Getty Images/istock).  

Contact us via Facebook Messenger from the Impact! Facebook group, or using any of the contact methods mentioned on our websites.  

Impact! www.heartfulimpact.com.