The province declared a state of emergency on Wednesday morning, citing the more than 500 wildfires burning across B.C. as of Aug. 14.
The more than 560 wildfires have sparked 29 evacuation orders affecting more than 3,000 people, and 48 evacuation alerts affecting almost 19,000 people.
Including this year, there have been four total states of emergency issued due to wildfires: 1996, 2003, 2017 and 2018.
Since, BC Wildfire chief fire information officer Kevin Skrepnek said that $214 million has been spent to fight 1,821 fires that have burned up 381,000 hectares of B.C. forests.
ThatB次元官网网址檚 $118 million less than this time last year, Skrepnek noted.
More than 3,372 firefighters are working around B.C., including 436 personnel from other provinces, Parks Canada, Australia, Mexico and New Zealand.
The fires show no signs of abating, the province noted, as the forecast calls for hot and dry weather, as well as lightning, for much of B.C.
. talking about the complexities of fighting interface fires.
B次元官网网址� Kat Slepian (@katslepian)
"There's concerns about how we operate around infrastructure" + people.
"This cluster of fires in the central part of the province is definitely a priority for us."
On Monday, federal Public Safety Minister Ralph Goodale said Ottawa would send 200 Canadian Forces troops to help fight wildfires in B.C.
Although Skrepnek said there werenB次元官网网址檛 currently plans on how exactly to deploy the troops, he said they would likely be used in a similar fashion to last year.
B次元官网网址淲eB次元官网网址檙e certainly not sending them out to fires that are starting, theyB次元官网网址檙e not going to be frontline first responder firefighters,B次元官网网址� said Skrepnek.
B次元官网网址淲eB次元官网网址檙e going to utilize them more so in the mop-up of fires. After itB次元官网网址檚 been largely contained, we get them on the ground to do a lot of the grunt work.B次元官网网址�
BC Wildfires 2018:
The state of emergency will last for 14 days, at which time it can be renewed. It gives authorities extra powers to help deal with the crisis.
B次元官网网址淧ublic safety is always our first priority and, as wildfire activity is expected to increase, this is a progressive step in our wildfire response to make sure British Columbia has access to any and all resources necessary,B次元官网网址� said B.C. Public Safety Minister Mike Farnworth in a release.
B次元官网网址淭aking this step will further ensure we can protect the public, property and infrastructure, and assist with firefighting efforts.B次元官网网址�
However, speaking to reporters later, Donaldson said there were no specific plans to set up a new wildfire assistance fund.
Instead he pointed to already existing provincial programs.
B次元官网网址淚n terms of the longer term issue of what financial assistance is available, that will depend in part on, one the wildfires are over, weB次元官网网址檙e able to get sense of the damage that has taken place,B次元官网网址� said Donaldson.
However, Donaldson was firm that whatever money needs to be spent to fight wildfires will be spent.
B次元官网网址淲e spend whatB次元官网网址檚 required to keep people safe and keep fires under controls,B次元官网网址� he said.
ThatB次元官网网址檚 regardless of what kind of fire season we have.B次元官网网址�
Although both 2017 and 2018 have been intense years with states of emergency issued, Skrepnek said they were B次元官网网址渧ery different fire seasons.B次元官网网址�
Last year, the province issued a 10-week state of emergency on July 7.
In 2017, much of the fires that burned up more than a million hectares of land started in early July, and most evacuees were back to their homes by this time.
Despite some forecast rain bringing B次元官网网址渁 glimmer of hopeB次元官网网址� to the southeastern parts of the province, Skrepnek said thereB次元官网网址檚 no sign of the B次元官网网址渕ajor rain eventB次元官网网址� fire crews need to get a grip on major wildfires.
B次元官网网址淩ain. We need rain,B次元官网网址� he said.
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Forests Minister Doug Donaldson rebuffed concerns that the province hadnB次元官网网址檛 begun wildfire preparations early enough.
Citing completed in the spring, Donaldson said the province brought in fire crews and aircraft onto fire scenes earlier.
B次元官网网址淲e increased our communication with important stakeholders early on in the fire season,B次元官网网址� Donaldson said.
B次元官网网址淥ne of the recommendations we are going to be taking action onB次元官网网址� more burning around communities, more fuel management around communities.B次元官网网址�
Although Donaldson acknowledged that controlled burns often make nearby communities nervous, he emphasized the safety and caution of the operations.
B次元官网网址淲hen we do burn during a fire season, itB次元官网网址檚 under expert authority,B次元官网网址� said Donaldson.
B次元官网网址淲e did already increase the number of controlled burns this springB次元官网网址� [prescribed burns] are an incredible tool to manage fuel buildup.B次元官网网址�
B次元官网网址淔orest fires are a natural part of the ecosystem.B次元官网网址� Prescribed burns are B次元官网网址渁n incredible tool to manage fuel buildup.B次元官网网址�
Last August, after strong winds caused the fire to jump Highway 97 and threaten nearby ranches and home.
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