B.C. wildfire situation improves with help from cooler, wetter weather
Posted September 14, 2021 11:15 am.
Last Updated September 14, 2021 11:16 am.
VANCOUVER (NEWS 1130) – B.C.’s wildfire situation continues to improve, with 207 active fires in the province right now.
Cooler, wetter weather has been a big help for crews, who have been dealing with extreme temperatures this summer.
“The weather has really been favourable for us over the last month, and giving some reprieve to those crews out in the field and helping us get some success on the wildfires,” explained fire information officer Taylor Coleman. “We’re heading in the right direction.”
There have been 1,594 wildfires in B.C. since April 1, 2021, with a total of 868,000 hectares burned.
Related Article: B.C. declares end to wildfire state of emergency
Coleman says all out-of-province crews have left, so they are down to only BC Wildfire Service staff and contractors, many of whom are now returning to school and able to take some well-earned downtime.
“We obviously had a ton of out-of-province support throughout this summer and we’re so grateful to have that because things were challenging at times. It was great to have those extra bodies in the office and in the field to help us,” she explained.
The #BCWildfire Service wants to extend a heartfelt thank you to the 98 firefighters and three support personnel who deployed from Mexico this summer to help manage the wildfire situation in B.C. pic.twitter.com/0hBxmrW7K1
— BC Wildfire Service (@BCGovFireInfo) September 8, 2021
The wildfire season can continue into October, depending on when the heavy rain and snow starts. However, conditions have significantly improved since the beginning of the summer.
B.C. experienced record temperatures this season, with highs recorded in various areas like the Lower Mainland and Interior.
Lytton shattered the Canada-wide record for highest-ever temperature three days in a row before the village was almost completely destroyed by a fast-moving wildfire.
Experts have said climate change has and will continue to fuel wildfires that burn bigger and last longer.
One researcher told NEWS 1130 drought, heat, and drier conditions are expected to become the norm in wildfire seasons to come, adding to future concerns.
