A danger tree faller works on the Shetland Creek wildfire, near Spences Bridge, B.C. on Aug. 5, 2024.HO/The Canadian Press
The director of provincial operations for the BC Wildfire Service says the province has seen about 10,000 lightning strikes over the last seven days, primarily in the Kamloops Fire Centre and Southeast Fire Centres.
Cliff Chapman says because B.C. had a hot and dry July, those lightning strikes have the ability and the fuel to start new fires.
There are about 340 wildfires burning in the province, including eight wildfires of note, which are highly visible or have the potential to pose a threat to public safety.
While Chapman says the forecast shows a return to cooler, more seasonable temperatures over the next week, it is not enough to “knock down” the hazards or susceptibility for new fire starts.
Chapman says the province may see more wind and the potential for more lightning over the next 36 to 48 hours.
He says the province is seeing about 12 to 24 new starts each day, and that trend is expected to continue for the next few days, particularly in the southeast and Kamloops fire centres.
“Relative to 2023, which many call the worst fire season B.C. has ever experienced, we’re still quite a few fires below where we were last year ... and we’re just slightly above the 10 year average for total number of fires in B.C.,” he said.
Emergency Management Minister Bowinn Ma told a news conference Tuesday that there are about 1,000 people on evacuation order and more than 2,500 people on evacuation alert due to wildfires in B.C.
She also noted there are about 1,600 firefighting personnel working in B.C., which Chapman explained includes contractors, structural firefighters, community firefighters and the BC Wildfire Service members.