British Columbia is breathing somewhat easier as the relentless wildfire season eases with the arrival of rain and cooler temperatures. The BC Wildfire Service has reported significant improvements, reducing the number of active fires and minimizing threats to communities. With only one fire officially designated as 'noteworthy', the province is turning its focus to the remaining challenges, particularly some areas still under drought conditions.
The Shetland Creek wildfire, which had been the cause for evacuations since it sparked on July 12, has now reached the status of 'being held', meaning crews have managed to successfully contain it to about 280 square kilometers. This shift marks notable progress for fire crews throughout Southern B.C. The only remaining fire of note, Corya Creek, located northwest about 170 kilometers from Terrace, is also seeing improvements thanks to the favorable weather.
According to Emelie Peacock, fire information officer, more than 700 firefighters and upwards of 100 aircraft are still actively engaged on the ground. 'Our crews are now what we call the mop-up stage on many of our fires,' she explained. The mop-up entails dousing the edges of fires with water and digging down to mineral soil to extinguish any remaining heat and prevent flare-ups. "It’s certainly welcome news for those people who are able to come back to their communities. But we still do have a lot of fire on the land," Peacock stressed.
Nonetheless, the rains and cooler weather have not entirely alleviated the drought conditions felt across many regions. It is important to note, over 90% of the wildfires are believed to have been ignited by lightning. Active burns still count nearly 100, with some classified as out of control. Reports indicate the total number of fires has dropped under 300, signifying progress as fewer blazes persist than just days ago.
Still, the wildfire season's intensity remains high with around 10,000 square kilometers already scorched since April 1. This season's devastation seems small compared to last year, which saw over 28,000 square kilometers lost to wildfires, leading to widespread evacuations across prominent regions like the Okanagan.
On another front, Jasper National Park also dealt with its own wildfire challenges during the past week, particularly as flames threatened buildings and disrupted fire crews due to unhealthy air quality. Fortunately, weather forecasts displayed promise as cooler temperatures moved southwards to the central Interior. This coincided with the BC Wildfire Service stating the favorable forecast should allow crews to make substantial progress against over 400 active blazes.
Wildfire crews are hopeful as this shift signifies much-needed respite from the extreme wildfire conditions. "This helps us reduce fire behavior significantly," said one spokesperson from the BC Wildfire Service. Among the recent good news is the pronouncement of rain along the coastal areas, historically keeping B.C.'s forests wet and more resistant to fires. But the concerns of drought linger, especially for the northern regions.
B.C. has lifted some fire bans, including the campfire ban, which had been firmly enforced throughout much of the southern regions. Although this seems to suggest the threat might be waning, officials urge caution as other forms of open burning continue to be prohibited.
Despite these victories over the flames, the wildfire service reminded the public not to let their guard down just yet, with reports indicating dry conditions may re-emerge as the weather forecast predicts warmer, drier days upon the approach of the Labour Day weekend.
