File Photo (Image Credit: CFJC Today)

By Michael Reeve / Q-101 Merritt

Wildfire Season

BC Wildfire Service seasonal update shows normal fire conditions province-wide

May 19, 2021 | 3:02 PM

KAMLOOPS — The BC Wildfire Service has provided its monthly seasonal update for May. The update shows that the entire province is still under ‘normal’ predicted fire conditions.

“April was drier than usual for the southern half of British Columbia, while rainfall was normal to above average in northern. Since last fall, select regions, including the Okanagan and the Kootenays, have received significantly less precipitation than usual,” reads the report.

“Early season wildfire activity has been intensified by low humidity and high wind speeds in valley bottoms, resulting in numerous active wildfires to date. However, the average size of wildfires this season is below historical numbers,” continues the report.

This fire season more than 200 wildfires have sparked in BC.

Image Credit: BC Wildfire Service

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“Over the next two months, vegetation in B.C. will be going through a green-up phase. Green-up refers to vegetation growth transitioning from a leafless state to a leafed state. This new growth helps mitigate fire risk by mixing with the accumulated dead fuels and increasing localized humidity,” states the report.

“British Columbians can continue to expect normal spring fire conditions. Additionally, the summer wildfire season cannot be reliably predicted either; fire activity in the mid to late summer is heavily influenced by the June rainfall cycle,” concluded the seasonal update.

Currently there is six active fires in the Kamloops Fire Centre.