File Photo (Image Credit: CFJC Today)

By James Peters

Drought and Wildfire

With very low provincial snowpack, officials renew drought, wildfire warnings

May 9, 2024 | 2:45 PM

VICTORIA — In the wake of a new set of troubling snowpack numbers for B.C., government officials are renewing their call for residents to prepare for a season of drought and wildfires.

The latest Snow Survey and Water Supply Bulletin from the B.C. River Forecast Centre shows a province-wide snowpack that is 66 per cent of normal as of May 1.

Image Credit: B.C. River Forecast Centre

Closer to Kamloops, the totals are slightly more encouraging, with 80 per cent of normal snowpack in the South Thompson basin — the highest reading in central and southern B.C. — and 71 per cent in the North Thompson.

In a news conference held Thursday morning (May 9), Nathan Cullen, the province’s minister for water, land and resource stewardship, said the drought situation across the province is serious.

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“We’ve had a relatively cool spring, but we’re not looking at an inordinate amount of precipitation,” said Cullen. “We do hope more comes and the spring stays relatively cool. Our message to British Columbians is to start to think about this now — how we’re using water, what are ways we can use water better and use less in anticipation of the spring and summer to come.”

Image Credit: Government of B.C.

The dire drought situation has officials already taking precautions, including enacting Category 2 and 3 burning bans in several areas of the province. However, the province has yet to contemplate a Category 1 ban, which would restrict campfires.

“We do use science to really drive whether we need to put campfire prohibitions in,” said Cliff Chapman, provincial operations director with the B.C. Wildfire Service. “It’s really about how quickly a fire can spread. Right now, we’re not seeing those conditions although we’re going to continue to monitor that daily as we see these temperatures increase.”

Federal officials also held a wildfire preparedness news conference on Thursday, speaking to reporters in Ottawa.

“Key areas of concern include the B.C. Interior, northeastern B.C. — which has high combustible material — northern Alberta with several small and out-of-control fires, southern Northwest Territories are entering a drier period, post thaw,” said Emergency Preparedness Minister Harjit Sajjan.

“As we expected, this year’s wildfire season is already taking a toll on Western Canada,” he added. “Evacuations, poor air quality, distressing image can have a significant impact on the physical and mental health of Canadians. I urge all Canadians to look out for one another. We are Canadians and this is what we do.”