As of June 28 there were only 88 active wildfires in B.C. — mostly in the northeast part of the province — with none considered to be wildfires of note (a fire that is highly visible or poses a threat to public safety).
Seventy-four of those fires were under control, and 12 (all in the northeast) were out of control. Two were listed as "being held", one of them the Tiffin Creek wildfire near Lillooet, which was discovered on June 24 and listed at 151 hectares as of June 28.
Rains in May and June have helped the drought situation, but snowpack levels are very low. July and August are traditionally dry months, with an increased risk of lightning strikes, which increases the fire risk.
So far this year, B.C. has recorded 285 wildfires, with 57 (20 per cent) caused by lightning. Fifteen fires (five per cent) are of undetermined origin. The remaining 213 wildfires — 75 per cent of the total — were human-caused. This covers everything related to human activity, from cigarette butts tossed out a car window to power lines toppling and starting a fire. Other human-caused fires can be started by activities including open burning, vehicle and engine use, industrial activity, and fireworks. Even sun striking a piece of broken glass can spark a fire under the right conditions.
With the hot summer season now upon us, the BC Wildfire Service (BCWS) is reminding people to be aware of fire prohibitions throughout the province. While campfires are not currently banned, they can be no larger than 0.5 metres high and 0.5 metres wide, and must have a fuel break around them or be contained in a rock ring or fire pit. At least eight litres of water, or a hand tool such as a shovel, must be close by, and campfires must be completely extinguished, with ashes cool to the touch, before you leave.
The BCWS Wildfire News website and mobile app allow the public to receive timely and accurate information about wildfires throughout the province. The app provides near-real time wildfire information, and is updated every five minutes. It provides information about wildfire statistics, the current wildfire situation, fire bans and restrictions, and more.
The "report a wildfire" function allows members of the public to easily report a wildfire, with most devices allowing users to add photos to the report. The reporting process utilizes a compass, GPS, and a map to identify the precise location of the fire, and the app allows users to report fires even if they do not have cell coverage, as the report will automatically be submitted once service returns. The BC Wildfire Service app is available for free for Apple and android products.
The wildfire service is also reminding the public that both Transport Canada and the BCWS prohibit the use of publicly operated unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) or drones of any size near a wildfire. The area around a wildfire has an automatic airspace restriction of five nautical miles around the fire and up to 3,000 feet above ground level (this area may be increased based on operational needs).
The presence of a UAV or drone near a wildfire can slow — or even shut down — all aviation resources being used on the fire, due to safety concerns, and may also slow or shut down the operations of ground crew. This has been a recurring problem over the past few fire seasons, and has impacted the BCWS firefighting response.
Flying a UAV or drone in restricted airspace near a wildfire is extremely dangerous, and poses a significant safety risk to personnel, especially when low-flying firefighting aircraft are present. If a drone collides with an aircraft, the result could be deadly. There is therefore zero tolerance for people who fly drones in active wildfire areas, and anyone found interfering with wildfire control efforts (including flying UAVs or drones) can face penalties up to $100,000 and/or up to one year in jail.
For more information about the BC Wildfire Service and the fire situation in B.C., go to https://bit.ly/2HCKBod.
