Despite it being hot and dry in Kamloops and across other parts of the province, there are no fire bans or restrictions anywhere in British Columbia, at least not yet.
BC Wildfire Service Fire Information Officer, Gagan Lidhran, says decisions around bringing in those bans are made based on a number of factors including the weather forecast and the fire risk.
“I don’t really know whether or not that’s an inclination moving into next weekend. That would be a decision that would be made by our operational staff based on sort of the conditions that we are seeing,” she told NL News.
“We do recommend to the public to please continue checking with your local authorities as they have bylaws in place restricting open burning.”
Last year, fire bans were brought in on April 16 to try and reduce the risk of human-caused wildfires during the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic. As it stands, the Fire Danger Rating is currently moderate for most of southern B.C., though there are areas in the Kamloops Fire Centre that are at high risk.
“We are constantly assessing fire danger ratings as well as weather, fuel humidity levels, as well as the fire fuel index, so that is going to particularly play a factor into whether or not there will be bans,” Lidhran added.
“However, that is a decision made by our operational staff. We are constantly assessing and monitoring this information. If there are any bans in the near future, I’m sure we will provide that information out to the public in a timely fashion.”
This afternoon, an evacuation alert affecting 54 properties in the Canford and Miller Estates, west of Merritt, was lifted as the Petit Creek wildfire – the first wildfire of note this season – is currently being held.
Lidhran, previously told NL News the BC Wildfire Service is preparing for whatever fire season lies ahead as we head closer to summer.
“Our weather stations are getting updated, and so you’ll see there’s a slight discrepancy based on our current conditions outside and what our weather stations are saying because it is early in the season,” she said. “There are still some stations in the Kamloops Fire Centre at higher elevation where its still kind of cold, and overnight recoveries are still really well.”
“So at this time, the danger rating isn’t going to be as accurate to the wildfire risk in the region. It is important for people to not get complacent.”
For the latest on the fire danger rating in the province go here. For the latest on fire bans and restrictions go here.