BC not seeing as many forest fires so far this year
Posted Aug 8, 2011 02:50:51 AM.
This article is more than 5 years old.
British Columbia’s damp weather has created some of the best forest fire statistics in memory.
Fire information officer Alyson Couch says no one can remember a year with so few fires, and it’s certainly the lowest fire count in the last decade.
The average number of fires burning in BC by the first week of August is about 1,000, but this year’s count is at 300.
There are no fires of note in BC, allowing the province to loan its 1,000 firefighters to other provinces and U.S. states, including 300 to Ontario.
Couch warns that there are still several weeks left in the fire season and the province is seeing warmer weather.
The fire danger rating has increased for several areas, including southern Vancouver Island, the northwest corner of the province and in several areas of the Kamloops fire district.
