As of this afternoon, a province-wide campfire ban has come into effect for most of B.C., with the exception of the Haida Gwaii Forest District.
B.C. Minister of Emergency Management and Climate Readiness Bowinn Ma announced the ban at a press conference on July 11.
“We are forecasting and anticipating the potential for a drastically accelerated situation here,” Ma said.
According to the B.C. Wildfire Service, as of Friday morning, there are over 150 active wildfires burning across the province, 14 of which have been discovered over the past 24 hours.
Four active wildfires are currently within the Kamloops Fire Centre: two west of Lillooet, one slightly northeast of Lillooet and one near Spring Lake, 4.5 km away from Peachland.
While Kamloops appears to be receiving some relief, other regions across the province have not been so fortunate.
Out of the six fire centres in B.C., Prince George is presently being hit the hardest with a reported 118 active wildfires, including 43 that are classified as ‘Out of Control.’
According to the B.C. Wildfire service, 77 per cent of the fires in the province are the result of lightning strikes, 15 per cent are the human-caused, with the causes of the remaining 8 per cent either unknown or still under investigation.
Although cooler temperatures are on the way for many parts of B.C., the risk of more fires remains high.
“While heat warnings have been lifted in some areas, the hot weather is predicted to continue for parts of the province, combined with the risk of high winds and lightning,” B.C. Ministry of Forests staff said in a release.
During the Thursday press conference, Minister Ma urged citizens to stay informed about the situation and be prepared for a fire emergency.
“My message to people and communities across the province is to be prepared. Be prepared but know that you don’t have to go it alone,” Ma said. “We currently have access to our full complement of our firefighting personnel of more than 2,000 people, with 500 deployed in the ground.”
To report a wildfire, unattended campfire or open burning violation, use the BC Wildfire Service mobile app or call 1-800-663-5555 toll-free.