Weekend saw uptick in numbers of wildfires in B.C.

Even though B.C. is moving into the final stretch of this year’s wildfire season, the province saw an increase in wildfire activity over the weekend.

According to the B.C. Wildfire Service, there are currently 144 wildfires burning across the province, with 11 starting within the last 24 hours.

The most affected regions are the Coastal Fire Centre and the Cariboo Fire Centre.

The Coastal region counts 31 fires, with 15 currently out of control.

26 wildfires are burning in the Cariboo region, where 12 blazes are classified as such.

“Since the long weekend, we have seen a large uptick in wildfires, but thanks to the impressive work of the BC Wildfire service, over 100 fires have been put out over the last week,” said B.C.’s Minister of Forests Ravi Parmar.

Seven evacuation orders have been issued since Thursday, Sep. 4, all but one in the area covered by the Cariboo Fire Centre.

A renewed evacuation order was issued by the Regional District of Alberni-Clayoquot due to the Mount Underwood on Vancouver Island.

“Throughout the last week, there have been impacts to highways in B.C., including Highway 5 and ongoing impacts to Highway 20,” Parmar said.

“While the incoming cooler weather will help with wildfire suppression, there are still many wildfires burning that can disrupt transportation routes, specifically in the Caribou Fire Centre.”

The BC Wildfire Service currently has 839 firefighters deployed, who are aided by 110 aviation vehicles such as helicopters and airplanes.

Those crews remain on high alert, especially after a civilian drone grounded a wildfire aircraft last week.

“A drone struck a BC Wildfire Service plane, causing damage to the plane, but more importantly, putting many people at risk since that plane was out for a day,” Parmar explained.

He is reminding the public that it is forbidden to use drones in areas where wildfire crews are operating.