B.C. on high alert as wildfires rage

NEWS/ WILDFIRES — British Columbia is on high alert today as the wildfire activity continues to grow throughout the province.

Smoky skies advisories and air quality advisories are being declared in reaction to local situations, including the Southern Interior, where both are in effect.

Among today’s updates from the B.C. Wildfire Management Branch:

• An air quality advisory due to elevated levels of ground-level ozone is in place for the Fraser Valley.
• The Big Beaver Creek wildfire crossed the Alaska Highway due to winds last night. The Alaska Highway is currently open to single-lane traffic and no evacuation alerts or orders are in place at this time for that area.
• The Puntzi Lake wildfire in the Cariboo has increased in size to 1,200 hectares and an evacuation order is in place.

There were 19 new fires in B.C. yesterday. As of noon today, there were 197 active fires throughout the province (of these, 20 are active fires of note), with eight states of local emergency due to wildfire, and nine evacuation alerts and orders currently in effect.

As of today, more than 80 properties in the province were on evacuation order with about 500 homes on evacuation alert.

The B.C. Wildfire Service has responded to 941 wildfires so far this season. More than 1,000 of B.C.’s firefighters are fully deployed throughout the province, and more than 600 contract firefighters are helping to fight fires. Also 63 sustained action firefighters and seven other personnel from Ontario remain in the province to provide support.

The Ministry of Environment, in collaboration with regional health authorities, has issued air quality advisories in several areas of the province – including the Sunshine Coast, Sea-to-Sky Corridor, Fort St. John, East Coast of Vancouver Island, Southern Interior, Metro Vancouver and the Fraser Valley.

“The air quality has improved in most parts of the province, though fine particulate matter concentrations continue to be variable,” Wildfire Management said. The advisories are expected to remain in place until weather conditions change.

The government announced it has signed a one-month contract with the Coulson Group for the use of the Martin Mars air tanker that takes effect Friday. The air tanker will be stationed at Sproat Lake – due to its size the Martin Mars can only land on and scoop up water from about 113 water bodies in B.C. as opposed to the 1,700 water bodies that our amphibious scoopers can access.

“The Martin Mars is not suitable for steep terrain. We will only use it in situations where it is safe to do so.”

B.C. Parks is now providing detailed updates on important park closures and campfire bans as well as general information about current Provincial Park conditions. Updated information can be found by visiting the B.C. Parks website at: http://www.env.gov.bc.ca/bcparks/campfire_bans.html.

People can show their support for the efforts of the firefighters and emergency personnel by visiting https://www.for.gov.bc.ca/pscripts/pab/fordisc/view_discussion.asp?TopicID=40.