Expected drop in temperatures will provide relief in the battle against BC wildfires
Firefighters in British Columbia are hopeful that the warmer-than-usual weather will ease off by July 25, providing some relief in their fight against over 400 blazes.
BC Wildfire Service reports that cooler temperatures and rain in the north have moved towards the central Interior on July 24, bringing the mercury closer to seasonal norms for the first time in a month.
The favorable forecast is giving crews an opportunity to make more progress as at least 239 fires have been extinguished in the past week, and about 124 fires have been brought under control.
However, approximately 260 fires are still burning out of control as of late July 24.
B.C. firefighters have been combatting a surge in wildfires since the weekend following dry weather, a heatwave, and tens of thousands of lightning strikes that triggered numerous fires.
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Environment Canada predicts highs in the low or mid-20s in parts of the Interior like Kamloops, Kelowna, and Lytton, where temperatures reached 40°C recently.
In the northern Interior, including Prince George and Williams Lake, temperatures are expected to remain in the mid-teens.
One of the most severe wildfires in the province is the 225-square-kilometer Shetland Creek blaze near Spences Bridge, which has destroyed around 20 structures in the Venables Valley, including at least six homes.
Another noteworthy fire is the four-square-kilometer Aylwin Creek fire south of Silverton in the Central Kootenay, which led to an evacuation order for the village and 17 surrounding parcels as of late July 24.
On Vancouver Island, the Old Man Lake wildfire continues to burn out of control about nine kilometers north of Sooke.
An update from the BC Wildfire Service indicates that the fire, just under one square kilometer in size, has seen some growth in unsuppressed areas, but fortunately, away from any structures or critical infrastructure according to Julia Caranci from the Coastal Fire Centre.
“We have not recommended any evacuation alerts or orders associated with this incident currently,” Ms. Caranci mentioned in an update posted on YouTube.
According to the Capital Regional District, the wildfire is burning a few kilometers south of the Sooke Lake Reservoir, a water supply area for about 350,000 people in Greater Victoria.
The district has closed several recreational areas due to the Old Man Lake wildfire, including Sooke Potholes Regional Park, Spring Salmon Place Campground, and access to Kapoor Regional Park.
