B.C. wildfire season poised to surpass 1958 as worst year on record

British Columbia is poised to face 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 since the start of the wildfire season on April 1, an estimated 8,450 square kilometres of forest, brush and grassland has been burned, an area three times the size of Metro Vancouver.

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 of 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 lightning-caused fires, which makes it even more critical to avoid any human-caused 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 the area from 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 access 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 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 coloured or gel fire retardant from structures.