(file photo/BC Wildfire Service)

By Liam Verster

Outpacing Last Year, 10-Year Average

Fire activity in B.C. continues to be above average

May 26, 2023 | 11:00 AM

The number of fires sparked across B.C. so far this year are outpacing both the previous year’s figures and the 10-year average.

The B.C. Wildfire Service’s Provincial Wildfire Status Update was released Thursday, May 25, and showed a total of 298 fires have burned 239,920 hectares already since the fire season began April 1.

Comparatively, in 2022 there were 125 fires that burned 599 hectares, while the 10 year average for the same period of time was 194 fires and 14,372 hectares burned.

The Fire Service noted the Prince George Fire Centre has broken records this fire season with 237,022 hectares burned as of time of publication. The previous record terrain burned in that region was 213,174 in 2015, and that was during the entire fire season from April 1 to October 30.

To date, there have been 52 wildfires reported in the Kamloops Fire Centre, which have burned a total of 220 hectares.

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That is the third highest activity in the province after Prince George’s 99 fires and the Cariboo’s 58, which have burned 1,787 hectares.

The Fire Service did not provide comparative data from the specific regions.

The report did not specify the causes for within regions, but did state that of the total fires in B.C., 201 were human caused, 83 were started by lightning, and the cause of the remaining 13 were unknown.

The report noted fire activity has declined over the past 48 hours after a return to more seasonal weather and temperatures, adding the freshet activity is also slowing and high streamflow advisories have been downgraded or lifted.

The Fire Service added the weather continues to trend toward warm and dry conditions across much of the province, but there is some optimism for precipitation in the northwest where the majority of the fires rage. A frontal feature is expected to see a storm front bringing showers to the area, though it could also bring gusting winds.

The report noted there is no risk of wildfire smoke moving south and impacting the rest of the province.

Category 2 and 3 open burning restrictions remain in place across the entire province. Campfires are still permitted in all regions excluding the Prince George Fire Centre, where there is also Forest Use and Area Restrictions in place.