The connection between wildfires, animal agriculture

Wildfires continue to rage across parts of Canada. Here in Manitoba, our summer season has been dominated by dangerous air quality, warnings for cottage owners and evacuations of Northern communities.

As of July, nearly five million acres of land had burned in our province alone. Nationally, it is the second-worst wildfire season on record, only trailing 2023. But along with the influx of fires has also come an influx of misinformation, about what causes wildfires, and subsequently what we can all do to help reduce the risk and intensity. Understandably, placing blame on arsonists or natural cycles or private jets is easy. Recognizing that something we do every day is fanning the flames, can be a tougher steak to swallow.

It is true that some wildfires are started by human actions, such as arson, unattended cigarettes and campfires. Many wildfires are also started by natural causes like lightning strikes. It is also accurate that wildfires have long been part of natural ecological cycles, and that they can be necessary and beneficial for clearing and restoring ecosystems.

But what is also fact is that climate change is exacerbating these infernos, creating drier conditions that lead to larger and more intense fires than ever before. In 2025, Manitoba experienced severe drought conditions, with regions such as the Interlake and western Parkland receiving much less precipitation than usual, leading to extremely dry soils and stressed vegetation. This is real climate change, not speculation or a hoax, but scientific consensus. And it’s happening right here in real time.

But what is perhaps a harder truth to contend with — an issue often left out of conversations around wildfires — is that what we eat, particularly meat, dairy and eggs, is making matters much worse.

Animal agriculture is a top contributor to climate change, emitting planet-warming gases and using up immense amounts of land and water. In Canada, over half of the greenhouse emissions produced by the agricultural sector come from meat, dairy and egg production. And nearly 90 per cent of the methane produced here comes from beef and dairy production specifically. Methane traps about 80 times more heat than carbon does over a 20-year period.

Even beyond climate change, meat, dairy and egg production also increases wildfire risk due to deforestation. When forests and other natural lands are cleared for pasture and feed crops, the vegetation that once kept the ground moist is removed, creating drier landscapes that are more prone to burn. Cattle ranching in particular puts native grasslands at risk, because when grazing is not carefully managed it can degrade natural ecosystems, opening the door for invasive species that are less fire resilient. In the U.S., the Bureau of Land Management identified livestock a decade ago as a key vector for the spread of highly flammable grasses.

Animal farming also uses up a ton of fresh water, not only for the animals but also for growing feed crops such as alfalfa and barley. This extensive water use can reduce soil moisture and local water availability, once again leaving vegetation drier and ecosystems more susceptible to wildfires.

Thus, when we fill up our plates with the products of animal farming, we are not simply making a personal dietary choice, we are also fuelling the very climate conditions that turn natural wildfires into the cottage country blazes and Northern community disasters that we see today.

To help mitigate the mounting risk and intensity of wildfires, there are things Manitobans can do. In addition to obeying fire bans and using fire and ignitors responsibly, we can also reduce our own contribution to climate breakdown, deforestation and water use by opting for plant proteins instead of supporting harmful animal agriculture. Choosing plant-based hotdogs and burgers for our next barbecue, beans for our tacos and tofu for our stir fries can help us all substantially cut our individual eco-footprint.

Summer is a treasured time in our province. Manitobans want to be outdoors, in nature, enjoying the fresh air. As wildfires threaten our landscapes and air, and disrupt our time at the cottage and life in Northern communities, it’s crucial we cut through the misinformation. Many factors contribute to wildfire risk, but the role of animal agriculture can’t be ignored.

Meat, dairy, and egg production fuel climate change, drain water resources and degrade ecosystems, making conditions for wildfires worse. Shifting to more plant-based foods is a meaningful step we can all take to help cool the climate, and to protect the precious places and summers we love.

Jessica Scott-Reid is a Winnipeg journalist, independent animal advocate, and the culture and disinformation correspondent for Sentient.