2023 Canadian wildfire season primarily attributed to lightning-caused fires, causing 90% of total area burned.

2023's exceptional Canadian wildfire season was primarily attributed to lightning-caused fires, which accounted for 59% of ignitions but led to 90% of the total area burned, according to a pre-print study. Despite more than 40% of wildfires being ignited by people, carelessness and arson were not the leading causes of forest destruction. The wildfires burned an area roughly half the size of Italy.