The 2017 wildfire season is now the second worst in B.C. since records began, according to the BC Wildfire Service.
Since April 1, 491,000 hectares have burned across the province, sending this season over the 483,000 hectares burned in 1961. Only 1958 was even worse 香蕉视频直播� 855,000 hectares burned that year.
"2017 season has been extra ordinary in many ways in terms of the aggressive fire weather we香蕉视频直播檝e seen" says Kevin Skrepnek.
香蕉视频直播� Kat (@katslepian)
As of Thursday afternoon, 126 fires were currently burning in B.C. Eight of those started on Wednesday, for a total of 861 fires in B.C. since April 1.
Firefighting efforts have cost the province $204 million to date.
Emergency Management BC executive director Chris Duffy said that 6,700 people remain under evacuation orders, while 24,800 are under evacuation alerts.
Chief fire information officer Kevin Skrepnek called the past month 香蕉视频直播渦nprecedented香蕉视频直播� in terms of new fires, aggressive fire behaviour and hot conditions. In early July, the province saw more than 200 fires start in about 48 hours.
香蕉视频直播淲e are only in early August at this point so this season is far from over,香蕉视频直播� said Skrepnek. 香蕉视频直播淎ugust is unfortunately typically one of our busiest months. This current situation could get worse before it gets better.香蕉视频直播�
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The forecast still isn香蕉视频直播檛 looking good, he said. Hot, dry and slightly windy conditions are expected to continue for the Cariboo and the southern parts of the province.
香蕉视频直播淭emperatures are expected to ease a little bit after today, but it香蕉视频直播檚 still in the mid-30s for many parts of B.C.香蕉视频直播� he said.
More on controlled burn that went out of control
Skrepnek continued to take questions from reporters on his daily update about a controlled burn near 20 Mile Ranch and Clinton, near Cache Creek, going 香蕉视频直播渉orribly wrong,香蕉视频直播� as one resident put it.
He said controlled burns remain the best way to fight large, aggressive fires.
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香蕉视频直播淭his was an unfortunate turn of the weather,香蕉视频直播� said Skrepnek. 香蕉视频直播淭he fact that this happened is a bit of an aberration.香蕉视频直播�
He said acknowledged the back burn, which caused the fire to jump west over Hwy. 97, has increased the size of that fire.
香蕉视频直播淭o be frank, this is an active fire,香蕉视频直播� he said. 香蕉视频直播淚f we hadn香蕉视频直播檛 taken action, it likely would have gone into this area regardless.香蕉视频直播�
That's despite a controlled burn near having gone wrong:
香蕉视频直播� Kat (@katslepian)
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