B.C. Premier David Eby (Image credit: Kent Simmonds/CFJC Today).

By Canadian Press

BC Wildfires

B.C. sets up climate emergency task force amid wildfire crisis

Sep 11, 2023 | 11:44 AM

KAMLOOPS — British Columbia’s premier has announced a task force into a cascading series of climate emergencies, saying the province doesn’t have the luxury of time.

David Eby says the historic wildfire season and drought is being followed by the possibility of significant rainfall that could lead to landslides and slope instability around highways.

He says the province needs to do recovery planning at the same time it deals with an active state of emergency and announced the launch of the expert task force into wildfires, drought and heat emergencies.

The premier says the task force will provide speedy recommendations and special attention will be given to improving timely access to emergency funds and accommodation for evacuees.

Eby, who’s in the B.C. Interior touring wildfire zones, says about 400 homes across the province have been destroyed by fires this year and acknowledged the difficulty of asking people to leave their properties.

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He says the province has also been working with the federal government on emergency disaster relief to ensure that local communities have the support that they need.

The BC Wildfire Service says more than 400 wildfires are currently burning across the province, with 176 still ranked as out of control.