Wildfire update planned in BC as crews battle about 350 fires

VANCOUVER — British Columbia’s emergency management minister is scheduled to give an update on the wildfire situation today as some areas of the province cool while others flare.

Bowinn Ma and Forests Minister Bruce Ralston will be joined by provincial staff to provide an overview of BC’s fire hotspots.

The BC Wildfire Service says recent rains and a return to more seasonal temperatures in many parts of the province have reduced fire behavior to several “major incidents.”

Four outstanding fires – where the fires are either highly visible or a threat to public safety – are burning in southeastern BC, resulting in multiple evacuation orders or alerts for communities.

The wildfire service says there are about 350 active fires in BC, down from more than 400 last week, however nearly half of them remain out of control.

The service also reports that about 90 percent of active fires have been sparked by lightning storms that have swept parts of the province in recent weeks.

The number of personnel fighting the fires has also increased substantially in the past two weeks to just over 1,500.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published on July 30, 2024.

The Canadian Press