Wildfire Update: Numbers Down; Wind A Concern

There are 167 active fires burning in BC today.

That’s down from 188 on Thursday.

There have been 21 new fires since Thursday.

Chief information officer Kevin Skrepnek (pictured) from the BC Wildfire Service says the big concern is increased wind by Saturday.

“Environment Canada is forecasting a cold front to move through most of the southern part of the province and that is going to bring some windy conditions to many of the areas where we’re experiencing some of the major fires right now,” Skrepnek told a news conference.

There have been 616 fires since April, costing 73 million dollars to fight

One-hundred and 14-thousand hectares have been burned this season

The latest estimate on BC fire evacuees is 16,680.

The biggest active fire is the Ashcroft Reserve at 11,500 hectares.

Princeton is at 2,700 and 10% contained.

Gustafson near 100 Mile House is 5,000 hectares and 20% contained.

Wildwood near Williams Lake is 2,500 hectares and 40% contained.

Hanceville complex is 40,000 hectares, Little Fort (Dunn Lake) is 1,400 hectares and 20%, and one to the west of Little Fort is 450 hectares and 40%.

Every BC resident is being urged Be Prepared.

Robert Turner from Emergency Management BC says even if you don’t have a current fire in your area, everyone should have an emergency kit ready to go.

“I just want to remind people if they go to the www.bcwildfire.ca website that will link them to our Prepared BC material which has very simple instructions and helpful hints on how to prepare yourself for an emergency,” says Turner.