Planes conduct surveillance and attack a fire on Mt. Hayes near Nanaimo Airport last August following months of hot, dry weather. (File Photo/NanaimoNewsNOW)

By Alex Rawnsley

ALL CALM

Wet, cool spring driving quietest start to fire season on Vancouver Island

Jun 23, 2022 | 2:10 PM

NANAIMO — Nearly non-stop rain has frustrated many awaiting summer months in the great outdoors, but is great news for local fire crews.

As of mid-June, just six fires had been registered by the Coastal Fire Centre in its jurisdiction which includes Vancouver Island along with the Lower Mainland, central coast and Haida Gwaii.

Julia Caranci, fire information officer, said at the same time last year, 59 fires had already been worked on by crews.

“Over the long term, the ten-year average is between 39 and 40 fires…so definitely one of the slowest starts to the fire season over the last ten years.”

As of Thursday, June 23, no active fires are listed for the entire Coastal Fire Centre and only seven are considered active, three of which are listed as either ‘being held’ or ‘under control’.

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Fire danger ratings remain mostly ‘low’ for the Centre, with small pockets of ‘moderate’ around Nanaimo, south of the Comox Valley and across southern Vancouver Island.

The lack of fire activity, especially compared to the season experienced locally just 12 months prior, has allowed for additional training opportunities for the nearly 300 staff at the Centre.

“Spring is the time where we do most of our training…so definitely over April and May we’ve done a lot of training,” Caranci said. “We’re ready, we’re prepared and we have adequate resources for anything that may come our way this year.”

The province’s first stretch of hot, dry weather is beginning Thursday where temperatures are expected to hover in the high 20’s for multiple days with little to no cloud cover.

–with files from Jon De Roo, 97.3 The Eagle

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