Province predicts mild wildfire season but calls for heat, dry conditions near end of July

Fuel conditions on the ground are near normal for this time of year and Conroy is optimistic for the summer but reminds BC residents to stay vigilant.

“Communities deserve all of our support especially as the threat of wildfires appears to be increasing with the ongoing effects of climate change — although we wouldn’t know it right now in the Lower Mainland. It’s wet which is a good thing but we are hoping for a better season this summer. As every British Columbian knows, we’re regularly facing some of the toughest wildfire conditions we’ve ever seen in this province.”

This fire season has consisted of 217 wildfires from April 1 to July 4 which is low for the province.

Steady rainfall throughout June has helped to limit the fire threat.

“Throughout the month of June, it was really widespread and it was deep and consistent rain that we saw — not only in our wetter belts but in those dry belts that we were observing earlier in the season in the Southern Cariboo and down through the South Thompson,” says MacDonald.

Although the wet conditions have made Kamloops and BC damp, MacDonald is predicting heat and dry conditions at the end of July going into August.

“There is good chances of getting into that warm weather so inevitably we will likely see an increase in fire activity.”

The B.C. government reminds people to obey fire rules and restrictions and to report any wildfires.

by Connor Gunn

Province predicts mild wildfire season but calls for heat, dry conditions near end of July

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