The province has spent $90 million on fighting 188,928 hectares of wildfires since April 1.
Chief fire information officer Kevin Skrepnek said 17 of those fires started on Sunday for a total of 159 currently burning in B.C. Since April 1, there have been 657 wildfires.
The total of hectares burned has already exceeded the 10-year provincial season average of 154,000 hectares. With 100,000 hectares burned over the season, 2016 was a 香蕉视频直播榮low香蕉视频直播� fire season, Skrepnek said, but noted that 2017 has yet to come close to the season highs reached over the past decade. In total, 2015 saw 280,000 hectares burned, 2016 saw 369,000 hectares, 2010 saw 337,000 and 2009 saw 247,000 hectares.
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There are 27 香蕉视频直播榝ires of note香蕉视频直播� and 15 of the fires are threatening communities. Almost 3,000 BC Wildfire Service staff are working to fight those fires, including firefighters, support staff, over 450 out-of-province people, 1,000 forest service contractors.香蕉视频直播�
香蕉视频直播淥n July 19, we are also going to be welcoming 50 personnel from Australia.香蕉视频直播� said Skrepnek. 香蕉视频直播淭hese are not frontline firefighting position but specialists and support staff.香蕉视频直播�
This isn香蕉视频直播檛 the first time Australia has helped out with B.C. wildfire fighting efforts 香蕉视频直播� they previously came up in 2009, 2014 and 2015.
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More than 200 aircraft are currently operational in the wildfire, including both helicopters and airtankers.
香蕉视频直播淲e have made progress at putting some of the smaller fires out,香蕉视频直播� said Skrepnek, although noted that the number of current burning fires will fluctuate as the BC Wildfire Service combines fires into complexes.
The fires around Williams Lake have slowed down, he said.
香蕉视频直播淐ertainly the weather on Sunday was quite a bit more mild than what we had been experiencing Saturday in terms of wind and temperatures,香蕉视频直播� said Skrepnek. The weather is expected to stay mild on Monday and Tuesday but the interior is forecasted to see lighting on Wednesday and thundershowers Thursday. Lightning can be a 香蕉视频直播渄ouble-edged sword,香蕉视频直播� Skrepnek said because while the rain is always welcome, lighting is a major cause of new wildfires.
206 aircraft on , reinforcements from Australia coming in
香蕉视频直播� Tom Fletcher (@tomfletcherbc)
Emergency Management BC deputy minister Robert Turner said that there was no update on the number of evacuees at the moment.
香蕉视频直播淚 can say there has been a huge upsurge in registration with the Canadian Red Cross,香蕉视频直播� said Turner.
On Sunday, there were approximately 37,000 evacuees across B.C. Evacuees have begun to show up in the Lower Mainland; currently, there are 616 at the Cloverdale Arena evacuation centre and 330 people at the Chilliwack Secondary centre.
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Turner confirmed that B.C. residents can refuse to evacuate as long as they are 香蕉视频直播榗ompetent香蕉视频直播� adults, following multiple instances of people not leaving evacuation areas.
香蕉视频直播淚t香蕉视频直播檚 not illegal for them to stay,香蕉视频直播� said Turner.
He noted that EMBC is gearing up for a 香蕉视频直播減rolonged香蕉视频直播� wildfire season and 11 emergency reception centres have been opened to handle the flow of evacuees.
- line serving west of Chilcotin at risk , Bella Coola, Riske Creek cash, gas service may stop
香蕉视频直播� Tom Fletcher (@tomfletcherbc)
RCMP Sgt. Annie Linteau said that 5,000 officers are helping out with the wildfire efforts and preparing for evacuation alerts to potentially turn in to orders.
香蕉视频直播淚n zones where evacuation orders are in effect, we continue to provide 24/7 coverage,香蕉视频直播� said Linteau.
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Major fires:
- Ashcroft Reserve 香蕉视频直播� 52,600 ha. Growth mainly away from Cache Creek towards Loon Lake
- Little Fort east 香蕉视频直播� 3,000 ha with 30 per cent containment
- Little Fort west 香蕉视频直播� 565 ha with 50 per cent containment
- White Lake 香蕉视频直播� 8,000 ha, slight growth in direction of Williams Lake. City not threatened
- Wildwood complex 香蕉视频直播� 13,000 ha with 20 per cent containment
- Gustafsen 香蕉视频直播� 5,700 ha with 25 per cent containment
- Lake Country 香蕉视频直播� 50.3 hectares with 75 per cent containment
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