Wildfire, drought risks high heading into summer: B.C. Government

Jun 16, 2026 | 4:17 PM

The province is gearing up for what it calls a “challenging wildfire season ahead.”

The B.C. Government gave a seasonal drought and wildfire update Tuesday, June 16, during which there were warnings that conditions could lead to incidents across the province over the summer.

“Summer temperatures are being seen in areas throughout the province, and with that comes wildfires,” Ravi Parmar, Minister of Forests, said.

“The B.C. Wildfire Service ahs already been on the ground in and around communities, keeping families and infrastructure protected. So far in this wildfire season, we’ve had [almost] 300 total wildfires, and over 4,200 hectares burned.”

The BCWS had reportedly been actioning the fires already this season, and were also doing preventative work such as fuel management and controlled burns in an effort to reduce risks of devastating fires in the summer months.

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Much of B.C., including the Okanagan, had below average precipitation and above average temperatures over the winter and spring. Those impacted snowpack levels, freshet and reservoir supply, and stream flows, which could result in elevated risks of wildfires, drought and water scarcity. Dave Campbell of the B.C. River Forecast Centre said watching weather trends in terms of rainfall and temperatures would be critical over the coming weeks and months, but Neil McLaughlin with the BCWS also warned summer storms bring lightning strikes, which could spark wildfires.

McLaughlin also stated that the amount of precipitation needed to offset the dryness and lack of precipitation was unlikely ahead of the peak wildfire season, adding the existing conditions aligned with those of 2018, 2019 and 2021, all of which saw significant wildfire activity.

People in British Columbia were encouraged to be prepared for the worst case scenarios and be ready to leave their homes if an evacuation order is issued.

“Being evacuated from a community, in any emergency, is a challenging experience, and that’s why taking simple steps now can make a big difference in the event of an emergency,” Kelly Green, Minister of Emergency Management and Climate Preparedness, stated.

“That means having a household emergency plan; having a grab-and-go bag for every member of the family, including pets; visiting PreparedBC.ca to learn about how to prepare for hazards, such as extreme heat and wildfire; and having home or renter’s insurance.”

Green added the province had created in-person, online and phone supports for people forced to leave their home, and people could pre-register with Emergency Support Services online so they could avoid those wait times if evacuated.

Parmar also advised people be vigilant and take steps to be fire smart, FireSmart their homes and communities, and download the B.C. Wildfire Service app to ensure they stay up to date with fire activity.

People were also urged to follow all local water restrictions in their community to ensure there would be adequate supply to last through the summer months.

by Liam Verster

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