Wildfire season continues with dozens of fires burning across B.C.

It’s been an unusually active wildfire season this fall, with dozens of fires still burning across the province — the BC Wildfire Service says it’s not likely to end anytime soon.

There are currently 200 active fires burning in B.C., with 51 of those in the Coastal Fire Centre.

“It’s because we haven’t had what we would call a season ending rain event yet this year,” Julia Caranci with the BC Wildfire Service said.

Caranci says it’s unusual to have such an active wildfire season this far into the fall.

But with many areas across the province reaching a severe drought rating, it’s not surprising that the wildfire season has continued longer than expected.

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“Drought conditions can be attributed to warmer seasonal temperatures and below normal rainfall. Many areas of B.C. have set temperature records in recent weeks, and accumulated rainfall amounts through September were below normal levels,” the BC Wildfire Service said in a tweet.

Caranci says that at the same time last year, rainfall was ongoing for almost a month.

“When we look at last year, it started to rain the first or second week of September and basically kept on raining right through the winter time. So we haven’t had that system come through yet. So until that happens, we can expect to continue to have an active wildfire season,” Caranci said.

“So we do continue to have a very active wildfire season into the middle of October. Yes, that is unusual. It’s not unprecedented, but it is very unusual, as are the drought like conditions that we have right now,”

The Lower Mainland still remains at a Drought Level 5, the highest level on the province’s scale.

Usually, between the middle of the summer and now, there would be about 165 millimetres of rain. This year, there’s only been 16 milimetres.

Metro Vancouver is asking locals to help by conserving water usage, and an air quality advisory also remains in place for the region.

Caranci is warning British Columbians to be aware that conditions are still very dry — and to be responsible with their fire behaviour, especially when heading outdoors.

The service says that fire bans are still in effect until Oct. 28.