Burning conditions in BC three to four weeks ahead of schedule

The BC Wildfire Service has updated their season outlook following a hectic few weeks with fires sparking across the province.

“By the end of the month, the Southern Interior only received 30% of normal June rainfall. Temperatures climbed steadily throughout the month culminating with a historic heatwave that affected the entire province,” reads the outlook.

“Burning conditions across much of the province are currently three to four weeks ahead of schedule and more typical of average mid-July or August conditions. Furthermore, select areas within the Kamloops Fire Centre are experiencing record moisture deficits,” continued the release.

Looking ahead to the rest of the Summer, the Wildfire Service is expecting the warmer and dryer conditions to persist.

“Grass and other surface fuels have been drying quickly, meaning that seasonal “green up” is over for most parts of the province. With fine fuels now well cured, wildfire behaviour will be more typical of mid-July or August conditions,” continues the outlook.

“The dry fuel conditions, lack of June precipitation, and record-breaking heatwave have also created the necessary environment for very large fire growth. Long range signals for near normal precipitation are confined to the northern third of B.C. Heightened wildfire activity is therefore expected to persist well into July. Recent weather and fuel conditions have made initial attack challenging, meaning large fires will likely be occurring throughout the province,” concluded the report.

There is currently 210 active wildfires in BC, 78 of which are within the Kamloops Fire Centre.