Guest: Star climate change reporter Marco Chown Oved

Wildfire season started early this year, with states of emergency declared in Saskatchewan and Manitoba, and intense fire activity across Alberta. But while much of the national attention has focused on the west, Ontario is quietly facing a growing crisis of its own. One of the largest fires in the province’s north—recently described by officials as a “sleeping giant”—has now scorched more than 175,000 hectares, triggering the evacuation of hundreds from Deer Lake First Nation and over 2,000 people from Sandy Lake First Nation. Wildfires in Ontario are no longer limited to remote northern forests. Fueled by climate change, they’re burning hotter, spreading faster, and pushing deeper into regions once thought safe. And experts warn that the systems in place to fight them are falling dangerously behind.

Marco Chown Oved joins host Saba Eitizaz to break down why Ontario is more vulnerable than ever and what it was like to become certified as a wildland firefighter to understand the stakes firsthand.

Produced by Saba Eitizaz, Paulo Marques and Sean Pattendon