By Chad Klassen

Hot weather working to increase fire danger rating, neutralize June rains

Jun 20, 2018 | 6:11 PM

KAMLOOPS — The fire danger rating is on the rise. The B.C. Wildfire Service says the June rains that Kamloops received during the first half of the month have nearly dried up with the recent heat wave that’s hit the city. 

The fire danger rating has jumped to moderate with pockets of high within the Kamloops Fire Centre. Grasses have started to cure and are drying up by the hour.

“Certainly we did see a substantial amount of rain in June, but we have also noticed that it’s quickly dried up and we are starting to see the potential for some increased fire activity if fires are to start,” said fire information officer Jody Lucius. “So we do ask that everyone’s extra cautious in the coming days.”

There are thunderstorms forecast for later this week and the fear is it will be accompanied with lightning strikes.

“We might see some precipitation, but it’s a double-edged sword because we’re also expecting a substanial amount of lightning, and especially moving into later this week before the weekend,” said provincial fire information officer Ryan Turcot. “The conditions on the ground might still be relatively dry, just from the hot weather that we have had, then you add all these lightning strikes to the mix. I don’t have a crystal ball, but I think it would be safe to say there’s a chance we could see an uptick in lightning-caused fire activity.”

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