INSIDE THE VILLAGE: When forest fires rage out of control

Welcome back to Inside the Village, a one-of-a-kind podcast where all news is local — and no topic is off-limits.

On this week's episode: The worst forest fire season of the 21st century.

As of this writing, there are at least 453 active wildfires burning across the country, including 63 in Ontario. All told this year, more than 5.4-million hectares of land — the approximate size of all of Nova Scotia — has already been torched.

Why is this particular wildfire season so destructive? We ask Eric Kennedy, a professor of disaster and emergency management at York University.

If you're looking for a simple answer, scorch that thought.

Hosted by Scott Sexsmith and Michael Friscolanti, the Editor-in-Chief of Village Media, Inside the Village is a news and current affairs podcast that provides a weekly window into some of the best local journalism from across our chain of Ontario newsrooms. Produced by Derek Turner, the program also explores bigger-picture issues that impact people across the province.

Every episode is available HERE. If you prefer the audio version, it is available wherever you find your favourite podcasts.

You can reach us at [email protected].