Around 400 wildfires continue to burn out of control across B.C. including over two dozen on Vancouver Island. (BC Wildfire Service)

By Pete McIntyre

FIRES AND DROUGHT

State of emergency in B.C. extended due to continued wildfire activity

Aug 31, 2023 | 2:05 PM

The recent cooler, wet weather is helping to subdue British Columbia’s wildfires, but the provincial government says it’s still a emergency situation.

B.C.’s Minister of Emergency Management Bowinn Ma extended the provincial state of emergency, which gives the government special powers, for another two weeks.

“The weather we experienced in the southern part of the province over the last number of days is a sign that we are slowly moving beyond the worst part of this wildfire season, but we must approach this with a balanced perspective,” Ma told a news conference Thursday, Aug. 31.

Ma noted 4,200 residents were on on evacuation order in B.C. due to fires, with another 65,000 residents on evacuation alert.

“The rain provided our firefighters a chance to breathe, but we are far from being in the clear,” the minister remarked

roster shakeup

Nanaimo Clippers lose two major players to Major Junior ranks

4h ago

armed robbery

Knife-wielding man robs south Nanaimo liquor store

12h ago

Shorthanded

Clippers fall short hosting Bulldogs

19h ago

Ma highlighted the ongoing drought levels with 27 of B.C.’s 34 water basins at level 4 or 5.

“While a handful of basins have ticked down a step, we have not experienced anywhere near the rainfall needed to see those levels come down in a significant way,” Ma stated.

The state of emergency was first declared on Aug. 18, 2023. It allows the province to enact emergency orders, including travel restrictions to specific areas as needed. The extension will last until Sept. 14.

Students return to schools next week, but Ma said, for some families, it won’t be the same with two public schools in areas under evacuation order, and 14 public schools and three independents under evacuation alerts.

She said school districts are determining if those students may need to go to a school in a neighbouring district, in another building or to get their courses online.

Ma noted the North Okanagan Shuswap School District is providing additional counselling services for its students, staff and teachers, recognizing that some of them have lost homes from wildfires.

Forests Minister Bruce Ralston said there were 422 wildfires burning in B.C at the time of the news conference.

“Milder weather and rain in the southern half of the province will allow crews to make good progress in the coming days,” Ralston said, but added hot, dry and windy conditions in the northern part of the province have led to some crews being shifted to fires in that area.

Cliff Chapman, operations director of the BC Wildfire Service, said the plans for his staff this fall will include prevention and mitigation programs like fuel reduction work around communities, and a significant increase in prescribed fires to eliminate the fuels.