Image Credit: Kent Simmonds / CFJC Today

By Aaron Schulze

Wildfire Watch

Out-of-province help arriving in B.C. starting Monday, but more lightning in the forecast

Jul 4, 2021 | 5:34 PM

VICTORIA — Since April 1, B.C. Wildfire Service has seen 633 wildfires burn roughly 83,000 hectares. Fifty-six per cent of the wildfires are human caused, 31 per cent lightning, and the rest are under investigation.

Cliff Chapman, B.C. Wildfire Service’s director of provincial operations, said fuels and conditions remain exceptionally dry, meaning fire starts are more likely to burn and spread. He added the Kamloops, Cariboo, and Southeast Fire Centres are expecting to see lightning in the immediate forecast.

“There’s a chance it will come with local rain… it will likely not be very measurable and will not have much of an impact on slowing the potential of new starts,” Chapman stated during Emergency Management B.C.’s wildfire update on Sunday (July 4). “Through the weekend, we are seeing a return to somewhat seasonal weather conditions in terms of temperature and relative humidity. It should help us in going after the fires we currently have… hopefully we’ll see the diminishing of lightning building every day, which will help us with new starts.”

The good news for B.C., according to Chapman, is 100 out-of-province resources will arrive in the province on Monday (July 5). He said they’ll receive rapid COVID-19 testing in Fraser Health before being dispersed throughout the Interior.

Chapman added B.C. Wildfire Service is in the process of locking in Hercules and Rotary Wing aircrafts, hoping to see them this week for aerial fire relief.

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In the meantime, Chapman said it’s important to work with First Nations in combating the wildfires.

“Provincially, it is our expectation that we work in partnership with our Indigenous communities,” he said. “Tactically, we’ve been able to do that at the ground level, Unfortunately, we need to do a better job of ensuring the leadership of those communities has the intelligence and are part of the planning as we move forward.”

Lytton investigation

Dawn Roberts with B.C. RCMP said a thorough investigation into the cause of the fire that destroyed the Village of Lytton is ongoing, although there’s no timeline on when it will be complete. She said the top priority is locating anyone in the Lytton area who may have been displaced due to the fire.

“If you know of a person who may have been in Lytton or a surrounding community on June 30… who cannot be accounted for, we’re asking for you to attend any RCMP detachment, or call your local or neighbouring RCMP detachment, and immediately report those individuals as missing,” Roberts said.

As of publication, Roberts said there are no active ongoing missing person reports related to the fire, or the evacuation of Lytton and surrounding communities.

Roberts said investigators are open to any possible source, cause, or origin of the Lytton fire, and intend to speak with witnesses and CN, along with conducting a physical search.

“Our officers that did attend (the Lytton site) are wearing significant safety equipment,” Roberts said. “They are noticing and experiencing some environmental, airborne, and other challenges. We’re limiting our access into the area and taking all the necessary occupational health and safety steps in order to do so.”

Additional policing resources have been sent to Ashcroft, Boston Bar, and Lilloeet in absence of the Lytton detachment.

Assisting evacuees

Pader Brach with Emergency Management B.C. said the more residents prepare for an evacuation, the more peace of mind they’ll have evacuating.

For those who want to support evacuees, he encouraged people to avoid donating goods if possible, unless a specific request has been made.

“Communities and evacuation centres may not be able to accept or manage material donations from members of the public, or businesses,” Brach said. “They’re tough to store and don’t always meet the varied needs of those impacted. For those whose homes and lives will take a long time to rebuild, they may not have any ability to take goods they have nowhere to put.”

Monetary donations to the United Way, Food Banks, and the Canadian Red Cross is the preferred route. Brach had no immediate answer regarding further provincial relief funding towards evacuees.