‘Most challenging 24-48 hours’: B.C. expecting many new wildfires as dry lightning to come

The B.C. government says it is expecting and preparing for “the most challenging 24 to 48 hours this summer” from a wildfire perspective, as a weather change from the province’s north makes its way to the south, bringing massive winds and dry lightning.

In an update Thursday, Minister of Forests Bruce Ralston says the province and its partners are preparing for the extreme fire conditions to come, and urged rural residents to listen to their local government and First Nations.

“We are preparing for extreme fire behaviour this week, due to the convergence of dry lightning, strong winds, and drought conditions. There is a strong likelihood of new fire starts that will grow quickly and unpredictably in the coming days,” Ralston explained.

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“We are urging people to stay aware of the fire welfare situation in their area, to take precautions, and to report fires when they see them.”

Cliff Chapman, BC Wildfire Service director of operations, says the next 48 hours will see a “significant weather event” in the central and southern part of the province.

“We will see this what we refer to in B.C. as a cold front, which is a cold air mass pushing up into the hot air mass that we’ve been living under for the last number of days. When those two things happen, it creates significant and sustained winds likely in the 30 to 40 kilometres an hour range with gusts up to 60 to 70 kilometres an hour.

“We will also see erratic winds through this event as it sweeps through the province, meaning that the wind direction will change. And what used to be a flank or the base of a fire will become the head of a fire challenging all of the efforts that we’ve put in over the course of the last number of weeks to build containment lines,” he explained.

Make sure you have an evacuation plan: BC Wildfire Service

Chapman adds that along with the winds, parts of the province will also see dry lightning.

“Lightning is our primary ignition source for new fires has been for the predominant part of this fire season and we are anticipating a significant number of new fires across the province of B.C.,” he said.

“Those fires will challenge even our air tanker and helicopter resources and our ground resources, as we are likely to see a number of new fires happening across the province. Again, this is a significant forecasted weather event for B.C.”

The cold front Chapman says is making its way from the Caribou, through to Kamloops and then to the southern fire centres.

Chapman says now is the time to “make sure you have an evacuation plan” for yourself and your family and to ensure you’re prepared with a grab-and-go bag.

“We recognize that across the province, at times people have not adhered to evacuation orders. I want to stress [that] now is not the time to not adhere to evacuation orders and alerts. The weather is going to be erratic and significant,” Chapman said.

Chapman says keeping aware of local wildfire activity is key, and listening to local government and provincial officials when there is an evacuation order.

“We will try to get you home as soon as we can, as this weather system passes,” he said.

“It’s going to be a challenging 48 hours for B.C. as it pertains to fire, but like everything, and as B.C. has shown time and time again, we will get through it. And we can get through it by showing respect to one another — checking in on your neighbour and making sure that you make space for first responders to come and do what they need to do to protect your life and property.”

Be prepared to leave, B.C. emergency minister says

B.C. Emergency Minister Bowinn Ma says as of Thursday morning, 480 properties are under an evacuation order, with 4,800 properties on an evacuation alert.

“I want to underscore that we are very concerned about the developing wildfire situation here in B.C.,” she said.

“The expected strong winds mean that wildfire can move and change direction exceptionally fast. We are urging people to stay calm, to be alert, and to be prepared. If you are placed under an evacuation order you must leave the area immediately. I understand that it is incredibly difficult to leave your home, and your community, and everything that you know — the places you love and seek comfort in during challenging times.

“But, I want to emphasize that an evacuation order is not the time to wait and see, especially not under the conditions that are being forecasted. Please be prepared now. Have an emergency plan and a grab and go kit ready for you your family and your pets.”

Ma says the province, with Emergency Support Services, is preemptively opening up evacuation spaces across B.C., but is encouraging people to make contact with friends and family who may be able to provide shelter for them.

Ralston added that as of Thursday morning, 28 of the province’s 34 water basins continue to be at a drought Level 4 or 5, with 5 being the highest on the scale.

“The drought situation is serious in British Columbia, there’s no doubt about that,” he said. “We’re closely monitoring stream and river flows, and taking regulatory action as needed. Protecting water is vital for people, communities, First Nations, as well as fish and wildlife who depend upon our rivers.”