Close X
Wednesday, December 4, 2024
ADVT 
National

B.C. extends fire state of emergency, says drought could continue into next year

Darpan News Desk The Canadian Press, 31 Aug, 2023 03:30 PM
  • B.C. extends fire state of emergency, says drought could continue into next year

British Columbia is extending its provincial state of emergency over the ongoing wildfires burning in the province while warning that drought conditions could last into 2024.

Emergency Management Minister Bowinn Ma said the extension ofthe state of emergency until Sept. 14 is needed in case additional extraordinary orders are required to respond to the more than 400 fires burning in the province.

“I'd like to stress one more time that we are still in peak wildfire season. The rain that we experienced over the last couple of days has brought some relief to the south but the wildfire season continues," Ma said Thursday.

"People across the province, particularly in the north, must stay vigilant and be prepared to evacuate if needed."

About 4,200 people in B.C. remained on evacuation order, with 65,000 on evacuation alert to be ready to leave their homes on short notice, Ma said. During the peak of the crisis, 30,000 people across the province were ordered out of their homes last week.

The news comes as the province also deals with an ongoing drought, which Ma said could last into next year. 

Approximately 80 per cent of B.C. is under a level four or five drought, the two highest designations.

"It is a concern for us that the drought season could last beyond this calendar year and into the following year," Ma said.

"It is one of the reasons why we have been imploring communities and water users to take voluntary measures to conserve water now. It is a very serious situation that British Columbia has not faced before, and it is absolutely necessary that people change their mindset about water here in British Columbia as a result ofthe impacts that we're seeing due to climate change."

Forests Minister Bruce Ralston said the province needs substantial rainfall over an extended period to help alleviate the drought caused by low rainfall and early snowmelt last spring.

“However, significant rainfall doesn't typically come until the fall, meaning we can anticipate drought conditions to persist in the province for the next while,” he said. 

“It is a serious situation. It is likely that an increasing number ofpeople, communities, First Nations, businesses and wildlife will face challenges.”

Ralston said there are four temporary orders in place to help restore water flow levels and protect  local fish populations. More may be required if the drought situation continues, he said.

On Thursday, the BC Wildfire Service website showed 422 active fires across the province, with 195 burning out of control and 12 listed as "fires of note" due to their high visibility or potential threat to the public.

This year's record wildfire season has already burned 19,111 square kilometres of land in B.C., with 72 per cent of the more than 2,000 fires recorded so far being triggered by lightning.

Premier David Eby had announced the state of emergency on Aug. 18, as fires swept down on West Kelowna in the B.C. Interior and evacuations soared across the province.

Ma said the fires would have an impact on the start of the school year on Tuesday, with two schools in areas under evacuation order and 17 under evacuation alerts.

She said alternative plans for affected students would be put in place, with some pupils possibly starting the year in a neighbouring district, or moving to online learning.

Widespread rain across much of British Columbia's southern Interior Thursday was expected to aid firefighters pushing back against a number of major wildfires in the region.

The Columbia Shuswap Regional District had said Wednesday that while cooler weather brought winds that may increase fire behaviour at the Bush Creek East blaze near Chase, the rain was "creating conditions for firefighters to increase their attack" on the fire now measuring 431 square kilometres.

Environment Canada weather radar showed light to medium precipitation was falling Thursday from Merritt to Salmon Arm, stretching over parts of the Fraser Canyon, Central Okanagan and Shuswap regions.

There were also showers in communities including Kelowna, Lytton and Salmon Arm, all adjacent to major wildfires that have forced evacuation orders.

The cool, wet weather has already tempered blazes such as McDougall Creek in the Central Okanagan, Ross Moore Lake south of Kamloops and the Kookipi Creek fire near Lytton.

Officials in both the Thompson-Nicola and the Fraser Valley regional districts downgraded a number of evacuation orders linked to the Kookipi Creek wildfire to alerts on Wednesday, with the BC Wildfire Service saying some parts of the fire received up to 16 millimetres of rain.

Evacuation orders were also downgraded to alerts in the Bear Creek Road area of West Kelowna in relation to the McDougall Creek fire, as well as in Turtle Valley in the Thompson-Nicola region close to the Bush Creek East blaze.

In addition, previous alerts for residents to be prepared for evacuation on short notice have been cancelled in parts ofWestbank First Nation and the Boucherie Industrial Area in the Central Okanagan.

Area restriction in several parts of the province's southeast were rescinded Thursday due to decreased fire activity.

 

MORE National ARTICLES

Chancal Badwal arrested in Abbotsford homicide

Chancal Badwal arrested in Abbotsford homicide
Upon arrival, officers discovered a 62-year old man, later identified as Imtiaz Hussain of Abbotsford, deceased. As a result of evidence obtained by the investigators, a 46-year old man was arrested and taken into custody.  

Chancal Badwal arrested in Abbotsford homicide

Surrey police issue Amber Alert for brother and sister

Surrey police issue Amber Alert for brother and sister
Surrey RCMP say Aurora Bolton and Joshuah Bolton were last seen in Krafty's Kitchen and Bar in Kelowna. Police say the suspect is Verity Bolton, who is five-foot-two-inches tall, with brown hair and eyes. 

Surrey police issue Amber Alert for brother and sister

Victim of violent carjacking, Gurvinder Nath, passes away

Victim of violent carjacking, Gurvinder Nath, passes away
Upon arriving at the delivery address, the victim was confronted by unknown suspects who attempted to take his vehicle when a physical altercation occurred. The unknown suspects fled the scene in the victim’s vehicle leaving the victim at the side of the road with life-threatening injuries.

Victim of violent carjacking, Gurvinder Nath, passes away

Surrey must stay with local police instead of RCMP: B.C. government

Surrey must stay with local police instead of RCMP: B.C. government
Solicitor General Mike Farnworth said in a statement that he has carefully considered the city’s report on moving back to the RCMP, but Surrey has not demonstrated that doing so would be safe or would not affect other communities.

Surrey must stay with local police instead of RCMP: B.C. government

Immigrant seniors lonelier than those born in Canada but research lacking: StatCan

Immigrant seniors lonelier than those born in Canada but research lacking: StatCan
Statistics Canada released the findings of a survey Wednesday showing older people who immigrated to Canada as adults were more likely to experience loneliness than those who were born here. It said loneliness has become an important concern because of its effect on health, including disability and frailty, as well as mental health issues.

Immigrant seniors lonelier than those born in Canada but research lacking: StatCan

Union gives notice of renewed B.C. port strike, employers say

Union gives notice of renewed B.C. port strike, employers say
The British Columbia Maritime Employers Association says resuming strike action that had halted cargo movement for 13 days at the start of the month is "unnecessary and reckless."

Union gives notice of renewed B.C. port strike, employers say