The most challenging days of the summer, warns wildfire official

The province of BC has issued a warning to all residents ahead of what is expected to be a challenging weekend weatherwise, that will likely mean more fire starts and fan those blazes that are already underway.

Wildfire crews, including aerial teams will be challenged given the forecast of high winds and lightning.

The government said during the past week, B.C. has seen record-breaking heat accompanied by dry air masses, especially in the south of the province. The heat has compounded the existing drought conditions affecting much of the province and heightened the wildfire risk.

Additionally, a fast-moving cold front is set to come through the province Thursday through Friday. The incoming cold, dry air is expected to break down the existing high-pressure ridge, causing strong, shifting winds and dry lightning.

As a result, the province may see new fire starts that grow quickly, as well as overall unpredictable and fast-moving fire behaviour of existing wildfires.

“This weather event has the potential to be the most challenging 24 to 48 hours of the summer, from a fire perspective,” Cliff Chapman, Director of Operations for the BC Wildfire Service said during a media briefing Thursday. “We are expecting significant [wildfire] growth and we are expecting our resources to be challenged from north to south of the province.”

Chapman said the winds- with gusts up to 60 kmh – would also be erratic, so the wind direction will change.

“Meaning, what used to be the flank or the base of a fire will become the head of the fire, challenging all of the efforts we’ve put in over the course of the last number of weeks to build containment lines; to use planned ignitions to secure the lines,” he explained.

The province said before travelling anywhere, the public should check for road closures, evacuation alerts, evacuation orders and other prohibitions, such as BC Parks closures.

Follow all instructions from First Nations or local authorities, including evacuation alerts or evacuation orders.