BC Forest Fire Season is Sparking
The Stoddart Creek wildfire near Fort St. John, BC | Photo Credit: BC Wildfire Service via Reuters
This summer’s forest fire season is forecasted to be worse than usual. Even before the start of the season, the general wildfire activity across Canada has been increasing, with 2,306 fires thus far in 2023 alone, as of June 9. Just over 400 of those, about 16 per cent, are in British Columbia, despite BC only occupying about nine per cent of Canada’s land mass.
The BC Wildfire Service predicts that more fires will be coming, since “drought-like conditions persist and there is little precipitation in the forecast,” as they stated in the June 1 update. A few days following that prediction, the fire danger rating advanced to “high” or “extreme” for most parts of the province, which led to another ban on open burning.
Wildfires can be caused naturally or by humans. According to the BC government, about 60 per cent of wildfires are caused naturally. This often occurs when lightning strikes a tree, releasing heat or other fuels and starting a fire. The other 40 per cent of wildfires are caused by human activity, such as through open burning, vehicles and engines, industrial activities, fireworks, etc. Human-caused forest fires may be caused intentionally or unintentionally.
Warm weather and a lack of precipitation also contribute to causing wildfires. The record-breaking heatwave and generally warm temperatures in May caused many early wildfires, particularly in the northeastern part of British Columbia.
Matt MacDonald, the lead fire weather forecaster for the BC Wildfire Service, said two to three millimetres of rain for 10 to 20 days consecutively would be required to alleviate the current drought conditions. MacDonald also mentioned that heavy rainfall once in a while wouldn’t be enough to reduce the risk, since that amount of rain would surpass the capacity of soil to absorb moisture.
So far, there have been 412 wildfires in BC this year, according to the BC Wildfire Service. 78 are currently active and 144 of them have been in the Prince George region. There are currently five fires of note, being “highly visible or [posing] a potential threat to public safety” according to the BC Wildfire Service standard, and 29 fires out of control and not reacting to suppression efforts. Seven fires are being held and are unlikely to spread beyond predetermined boundaries, while 42 are under control and will not spread further.
In response to the early start to the wildfire season, there have been Category 1, 2, and 3 fire bans. Category 2 and 3 fires are open burning, defined as being 2 metres or less in both height and width. These fires have been banned everywhere in BC, starting as early as May 4 for the Cariboo Fire Centre region. Category 1 fires are campfires that are 0.5 metres or less in both height and width. As of June 8, Category 1 fires have been completely banned in the Cariboo, Kamloops, and Prince George Fire Centres. The Coastal, including the Lower Mainland, and Northwest Fire Centres are under partial Category 1 bans. These bans are likely to last until October.
However, Category 4 prescribed fires are not banned. These types of fires, also known as cultural burning, are “controlled, low-intensity burns” that Indigenous peoples have been having since before the advent of written records. The purpose is to revitalize plants and enhance habitats by removing overgrown vegetation and releasing nutrients into the soil to help new trees grow, simultaneously reducing the severity of future fires. Economically, cultural burnings also help minimize the risk of harming land investments and infrastructure.
To prevent fires, people are encouraged to camp responsibly and critically consider the size and location of their fires, ensuring that they are adhering to the bans. When at home during the wildfire season, people should make an emergency plan and prepare a grab-and-go bag in the event that evacuation is needed. During a fire, up-to-date information will be provided on the BC Wildfire Service and Emergency Info BC websites and social media accounts. If evacuation is needed, people must be cautious when re-entering their homes. They must inspect and repair any fire damage, discard spoiled food, and ensure their water source is safe.