B.C. on track for worst fire season on record

Roughly 8,450 square kilometres have burned since April 1, spokesman says

British Columbia is facing its worst wildfire season on record, as flames scorch thousands of hectares of land and costs rise to deal with the devastation.

B.C. Wildfire Service spokesman Kevin Skrepnek said an estimated 8,450 square kilometres of forest, brush and grassland has been burned since the start of the wildfire season April 1.

That compares with a record loss of 8,550 square kilometres in 1958.

“(It’s) safe to say we are on track for this to be the worst season on record for that area burned,” Skrepnek said.

He said 154 wildfires are burning across the province and the firefighting price tag has reached $309 million, though that figure does not include costs for the loss for 71 homes and 118 outbuildings.

The largest wildfire, in Hanceville, southwest of Williams Lake, now covers 2,120 square kilometres, Skrepnek said.

“We’re urging people to be extremely careful with any activity that could spark a wildfire,” he said. “We’re continuing to see the increased likelihood of lightningcaused fires, which makes it even more critical to avoid any humancaused incidents.”

Skrepnek also urged people to report fires.

More than 4,100 people, including about 760 people recruited from outside the province, are working on firefighting efforts, Skrepnek said.

Chris Duffy, executive director of operations for Emergency Management B.C., says nearly 9,300 people remain out of their homes as 40 evacuation orders are still in place.

“Our priority remains public safety, first responders’ safety and support to local authorities and First Nations,” he said.

He said 31,000 people are on evacuation alert, meaning they must be ready to leave at a moment’s notice.

Evacuation orders in parts of the Cariboo have been downgraded to alerts in some areas, including Alexis Creek to Riske Creek after residents were forced to leave Sunday.

However, officials with the Cariboo Regional District said ongoing fire control activities mean access to some areas may be limited and is at the discretion of checkpoint personnel.

“We would still urge the public to remain vigilant,” Duffy said, adding the fire risk remains high. “Have an emergency plan, an emergency kit, report fires and, in particular, respect orders and alerts and instructions from first responders, fire crews, highways (officials) and RCMP who are working around these fire sites.”

Many returning residents have had to power wash off the red fire retardant that covered their property in efforts to protect structures.

The B.C. Centre for Disease Control says anyone removing coloured fire retardant should avoid eye contact and wash hands when removing the substance from structures.