By Grant Warkentin
There are only three wildfires left burning on Vancouver Island; one near Duncan is under control, and two south of Woss are now classified as “being held.”
Meanwhile, with cool, damp weather mainly expected for Campbell River and the coast during the next week, firefighters are focused on southeastern BC.
“Hot, dry and windy conditions are expected to continue through southeastern areas of the province today continuing the challenging firefighting conditions,” the BC Wildfire Service said today in a statement. “Temperatures will ease and be closer to seasonal for the rest of the province. Forecasts indicate warm, dry conditions will continue in the southeast part of the province, meaning new wildfire starts and increased fire behaviour remain possible in the days ahead.”
Firefighters from the Yukon, Alberta, and Mexico are arriving this week to assist the crews currently battling blazes still threatening multiple communities. The biggest blazes are a cluster of fires north of Hells Gate near Boston Bar; the Pear Lake fire west of Cache Creek; and the Tower Creek fire west of Cranbrook.
The BC Wildfire Service is encouraging people throughout the province to stay alert, and prepare themselves for disaster, even if it never comes. Locally, the Strathcona Regional District’s Emergency Program sends out alerts for most North Island communities through the Alertable app.
You can also register for specific alerts through the program website.
Featured photo: A firefighter from Mexico helping out in BC during the 2023 season. Image from BC Wildfire Service / Facebook
Leave a Reply