During today’s update on the wildfire situation in BC, Chief Fire Information Officer Kevin Skrepnek says the weather forecast continues to be mixed news for firefighters.
“Tomorrow, we’re expecting isolated thunderstorms with the rain in the south and potentially in the Cariboo. Rain would be welcome. Unfortunately, there is a risk of lightning as well. Further thunderstorms expected for Thursday across the south and the Caribou but it is looking like Thursday will almost certainly come at least a little bit of rain.”
There are more than 3,000 people currently fighting the fires in BC, including more than 400 from outside of the province and nearly 1,000 contractors from the forest industry. Two hundred and twenty aircraft are supporting ground operations.
“Today, we have 155 fires burning across the province,” Skrepnek says. “That does include nine new fires that started yesterday. We have responded to 675 fire since April 1st that have burned 327,000 hectares, costing at current estimate, $98.4 million.”
Of the fires currently burning, 27 are fires of note and Skrepnek says 15 are considered a threat to communities. Of those, he says the fires near Williams Lake, Ashcroft and Hanceville are of highest concern.
Emergency Management BC now estimates that nearly 46,000 people have been evacuated. More than 30,000 people – close to 13,000 households – have registered with the Red Cross and nearly 11,000 of them are expected to receive monetary support from the Red Cross by the end of today.
For updated information, be sure to visit the BC Wildfire Service website.