Rising temperatures (+1.4°C in summer over the last century) and prolonged droughts have made British Columbia's forests increasingly vulnerable to wildfires.

Decreased precipitation (both in the winter and summer months) has left landscapes drier and more prone to ignition.

Warmer and drier summer conditions have increased lightning frequency, producing more wildfires.

Climate change and human activities have caused vegetation shifts, increasing the available fuel for wildfires.

Invasive species like Scotch broom and gorse have spread widely, displacing native plants and creating denser, more flammable vegetation.

Deforestation, land development, and accidental ignitions significantly contribute to wildfires.

Logging activities throughout British Columbia leave behind vast amounts of wood waste, and can fuel fires during the wildfire season.

Agricultural burns, recreational campfires, and industrial logging are sources of unintended ignitions. These activities often lead to fires that spread quickly, especially in dry, remote areas with limited fire control resources.

Off-road vehicle use and discarded cigarette butts are additional human-caused factors that ignite wildfires.

A century of fire suppression and a changing climate in British Columbia have created unnatural fuel accumulations, increasing wildfire risk.

Without cultural and lightning ignitions providing a continuous cycle of mixed-severity fires (low, moderate and high) in areas such as Gitanyow Nation's territory, the forests have become densely packed with underbrush and combustible materials.

These dense forests are now susceptible to intense wildfires, as they lack the natural thinning process that controlled burns and wildfires once provided.

The build-up of dry fuel, such as fallen branches and dead trees, has turned these forests into tinderboxes waiting for ignition.