With the province about to enter its fourth week in a state of emergency, BC Wildfire Service Chief Information Officer Kevin Skrepnek delivered an update on the wildfire situation
“We have 149 fires burning across the province right now. Since April 1, we’ve responded to 804 fires that have burned over 380,000 hectares of land. Estimated cost to date for the BC Wildfire Service: $160 .8 million.”
12 new fires started yesterday. Skrepnek says, given the hot dry conditions, it’s amazing there weren’t any more.
There is no significant rain forecast for any of the affected areas, Skrepnek says.
“We’re continuing to see hot and dry, sunny conditions for the south. Tomorrow, we’re seeing a risk of thunderstorms in the Northern Cariboo and Prince George fire Center. Slight risk of a thunderstorm on Sunday but unfortunately, we’re expecting continued hot and dry conditions for the foreseeable future.”
The BC Wildfire Service has more than 4,600 people working to battle the blazes. That includes nearly 1,000 out of province personnel and over 1,500 contractors, many from the forestry industry.
Although many have been allowed to return home, Emergency Management BC estimates that about 5,000 people are still under evacuation orders.
AUDIO: The BC Wildfire Service and other emergency response officials provide update on the #BCwildfire situation: https://t.co/1s08p6kemW
— BC Wildfire Service (@BCGovFireInfo) July 28, 2017