The BC Wildfire Service says 167 wildfires are burning across the province, including 21 new ones starting on Thursday.
More than 3,000 crews and personnel, along with 200 aircraft, have been deployed says Chief Fire Information Officer Kevin Skrepnek.
“To date, there have been 616 fires which have burned more than 114,000 hectares of land, costing an estimated $73 million. Firefighting efforts remain focused on public safety, and keeping highways that serve as evacuation routes open.”
Eight structures have been lost in the South Cariboo due to the #bcwildfires in the area.
| https://t.co/E8Rs5iH6nX pic.twitter.com/2NYqPdeFRR— My Prince George Now (@mypgnow) July 14, 2017
He says the Chilcotin region has one of the biggest blazes burning at a combined 40,000 hectares.
The weekend weather is calling for a cold front for most of the heavily affected areas and Skrepnek says this includes thunder and lightning.
“Much of the it does look like it’s going to be coming with some rain, but obviously lightning has been a big driver of new fire starts, so we’re keeping a close eye on that. In terms of the wind, we’re especially concerned about what that’s going to entail for the Cariboo Region and the Southern Interior where we have all these major fires.”
Chances of lightning in some areas, particularly around Fort St. John, as well as parts of the Cariboo fire centre.
— My Prince George Now (@mypgnow) July 14, 2017
He adds we could be seeing wind speeds up to 40km per hour in those areas as well, however, there’s still a sense of uncertainty.
“Winds are somewhat difficult to really nail down exact information too much ahead of time, but certainly the models are suggesting that there is going to be a wind event. In terms of temperatures, we’re expecting continued conditions to be hot and dry with not much rain in the forecast for any parts of Southern BC for the short-term period.”
Hot + dry conditions expected to continue. No significant rain in the forecast for any affected areas for the next 4-5 days at least
— My Prince George Now (@mypgnow) July 14, 2017
Skrepnek stresses the on-going top priority is public safety.
The BC Wildfire Service, Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure (MOTI), and BC Parks are advising campers to abide by the park closures in the Cariboo Fire Centre this weekend, and to stay out of the backcountry.
.@BCGovFireInfo says the closure of all recreation sites, trails in the #Cariboo is necessary | https://t.co/fiC9aJoHrO #BCWildfires pic.twitter.com/0anyik7dID
— My Prince George Now (@mypgnow) July 14, 2017
Something going on in the Nechako Valley area you think people should know about?
Send us a news tip by emailing [email protected].
