FORT ST. JOHN -- The provincial government held a press conference today to update residents on the current wildfire season. British Columbia is on track for the worst wildfire season on record, explained Minister of Emergency Management and Climate Readiness Bowinn Ma.
According to the government, nearly 14,000 square kilometres of land in B.C. have burned since April 1, officially making 2023 the province's worst wildfire season on record in terms of area burned.
According to the B.C. Wildfire Service, as of Tuesday morning, there had been 1,190 fires so far this season, and 1,398,597 hectares had burned. About half of the fires currently burning are out of control.
The province's previous record wildfire season was in 2018 when 2,117 blazes burned 1,354,284 hectares.
Given that statistics are compiled for April 1 to March 31 of the following year, there's still a lot of time left for the 2023 season to worsen.
"The models are – they don't look great for the rest of the summer," said Cliff Chapman, director of wildfire operations for BCWS during a news conference Tuesday morning.
He said July and August are typically B.C.'s "core fire season," and that modelling from Environment and Climate Change Canada for the rest of the summer suggests higher-than-average temperatures and below-average rainfall across much of the province.
"We are heading into the peak season for wildfires… it is significant and it’s most likely more to come," said the minister, acknowledging the new record for area burned.
Ma also acknowledged and thanked the federal government for its activation of the Canadian Armed Forces to help respond to wildfires in B.C.
“The Canadian Armed Forces will be directly involved with fighting fires, and will provide two helicopters and one Hercules aircraft for mobility and logistical tasks, including evacuation of isolated communities, and planning and coordination support,” wrote the minister in a press release.
The Canadian Armed Forces also deployed a reconnaissance team last Sunday. The team is currently based in Prince George to work with the emergency operation centre and the B.C. Wildfire Service to determine where and how the Canadian Armed Forces can best assist with response operations.
“Plans are underway to deploy the first company of soldiers from the Canadian Forces Base Edmonton to the Burns Lake area, in the Northwest Fire Centre, and the second to Vanderhoof, at the Prince George Fire Centre,” wrote the minister.
The federal resources will join more than 350 international personnel currently in place in B.C. from the U.S., Mexico and New Zealand. These teams work alongside the approximate 2,000 BC Wildfire Service personnel across B.C.
“As every British Columbian knows, this fire season has been one of the most challenging and persistent on record. Although we are still early in the fire season, it has already proven to be a difficult time for communities, First Nations, people living in the affected areas and BC Wildfire Service firefighters,” wrote Ma.
Files from CTV’s Ian Holliday
