B.C. FIRE UPDATE
As much as 70 per cent of British Columbia has an “extreme” or “high” fire rating right now, following several days of 30 degree plus temperatures.
Temperatures across the province are forecast to drop for the rest of the week, but fire information officer Alyson Couch says a lack of rain will mean the dangerous conditions will remain in the tinder dry forests.
As of Monday afternoon, approximately 275 fires were burning in B.C. with the province’s Cariboo Region dealing with “particularly challenging” fire conditions. "There hasn't been any containment on most of these fires," Couch said. Vancouver Island has also been hit hard and is under an extreme fire hazard rating and fire information officer Rosalie MacAulay said two major fires are burning on the Island. One of the fires is about 10 kilometres north of Jordan River, while the other is 10 kilometres east of Port Alice.
The Jordan River fire has affected 30 hectares and about 50 firefighters and five helicopters have been to the steep terrain site that is primarily slash and parched trees.
The Port Alice-area fire was originally about four hectares but grew to 20 hectares. Air tankers were called in help with the fire yesterday. MacAulay said fire officials on the Island expect a slight reprieve by Saturday with the arrival of higher relative
humidity and a chance of precipitation in some areas.
For more on forest fires, see our timely article in our sister publication, Canadian Forest Industries, available on-line at www.canadianforestindustries.ca
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