BC Fire crews keeping close watch on burning wildfires
Posted July 4, 2015 1:55 pm.
Last Updated July 4, 2015 2:08 pm.
This article is more than 5 years old.
BRITISH COLUMBIA (NEWS 1130) – The tinder dry conditions are making things tough for firefighters across BC.
Provincial Fire Information officer Ryan Turcot says it’s been a very busy 24 hours. “We have 167 fires burning in the province right now and the vast majority of them are lightning caused,” Turcot explains.
He says that number is eyebrow raising since it’s only the beginning of July. “It certainly is above average for this time of year. With the fire danger ratings right now they are high to extreme in most parts of the province with them being moderate to high in the southeastern part of the province. It is a concern but we are actively monitoring the situation.”
Turcot notes they have over 1000 Type one firefighters working across the province. “We haven’t brought any firefighters in from out of province at this point”
The hardest hit area is the Prince George region with 81 actively burning wildfires and more than 80,000 hectares scorched.
There is an open-fire ban for the entire province with the exception of the “fog zone” on the West Coast of Vancouver Island.
