BC Wildfire Service forecasts increased risk, fire danger ratings in coming weeks

The latest wildfire outlook released today is forecasting an increase in overall wildfire risk and fire danger ratings as the province transitions to warmer and drier conditions.

The BC Wildfire Service says current wildfire activity is minimal and concentrated in the northern half of the province as cool and wet conditions last month in the south tempered overall fire activity.

But it says a predicted warming and drying trend is likely to result in new wildfire starts and larger growth of existing fires.

It says temperatures are expected to rise above seasonal by mid-month and remain relatively high through much of August — while a drop in rainfall is forecast to lead to drier-than-normal conditions through mid-August.

“Even though it’s a slow start to fire season, all we need is a week or so of warm dry weather, wind and fuel conditions can change quite rapidly and be receptive to ignitions,” said Environment and Climate Change Canada meteorologist Matt MacDonald.

So far this year there have been 17 fires in the Coastal Fire Centre, compared to 100 at this time last year and well below the 10-year average of 67.

Across the province this year there have been 251 wildfires with 7,400 hectares burned, most of them in the north, compared to 785 fires at this time last year and nearly 107,000 hectares burned.

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