By Dominic Abassi

Forests ‘well hydrated’ heading into fire season

Apr 10, 2017 | 2:07 PM

PARKSVILLE — The cool, wet weather on the mid-island over the winter and early spring hasn’t been popular with everyone, but it was welcomed by crews at the Coastal Fire Centre (CFC).

Plenty of rain and snow have the coast entering fire season with well hydrated forests, according to fire information officer Donna MacPherson.

However, MacPherson said June rains will be a more important indicator of what kind of summer we’re in for.

“We’re looking forward into a summer that may have slightly elevated temperatures,” she said. “But they are saying that it looks like we’ll get normal precipitation. So, as long as we get some good rain in through June and then periodically through the summer, things are looking good for us.”

CFC data shows 197 forest fires in 2016, burning just 383 total hectares. The 10-year average is 248 fires per season.

time served

Nanaimo man caught with over 30g of illicit drugs avoids additional jail time

9h ago

big return

Senior women's box lacrosse returns to Nanaimo after 10+ year absence

10h ago

environmental impacts

Accidental pump activation causes minor oil slick in Nanaimo marina

12h ago

“We did have those periodic rains in between our dry periods (last summer),” MacPherson said. “So just as the forest was starting to suffer from the lack of rain, we seemed to get a rain event that was enough to help them recover.”

MacPherson said the slower 2016 season was a relief, following 2015 when more than 25,000 total hectares were burnt within the CFC’s region. That summer can be blamed on a two-year drought leading into it.

As usual, careless behaviour by people continues to be an issue. Over the last two years, 70 per cent of forest fires were person-caused, according to the CFC. That’s above the 10-year average.

“I’m urging people this year…to stop looking at the forest as if it’s a stage background,” MacPherson said. “It’s actually a living entity and if you’re entering into it you need to treat it with a little bit of respect. If you’re going to go in and have your campfire, that’s awesome…but make sure that it’s out when you leave, because you’re the unnatural thing there.”

As of April 1, the mountain snow pack is 102 per cent of normal, according to the province’s River Forecast Centre.

MacPherson said about 40 per cent of their crew is back and training as the season ramps up.

-with files from Daryl Major

dominic.abassi@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @domabassi