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Officials are asking British Columbians to be watchful if they’re outdoors this weekend as they respond to a number of early-season wildfires.
As of 5 p.m. PT Thursday, there were 19 fires burning throughout the province, according to the B.C. Wildfire Service (BCWS). Most were human-caused, which is how any wildfire not sparked by lightning is categorized, and five were classified as out of control.
BCWS officials had said that the warm and dry winter experienced by most of the province could lead to heightened risk in some areas this summer.
On Thursday, the Coastal Fire Centre issued an advisory that urged residents of southwest B.C. to be cautious if they’re starting open fires this weekend.
B.C. wildfire experts warn a warm winter and lingering drought could make for a very busy fire season. As the CBC’s Katie DeRosa reports, authorities are also fighting artificial intelligence misinformation.
Fire information officer Julia Caranci said it comes amid what are called outflow conditions — when warm, drier air flows from the Interior to the ocean through the coastal valleys.
“What that is going to do, over this warming and drying period, is reduce our relative humidity fairly significantly over the next several days,” she said Thursday.
“So as a precautionary measure, we’ve asked folks to be particularly careful with their use of open fire, particularly over the next few days.”
While there aren’t widespread burning prohibitions yet, Caranci is urging people to be cautious and use common sense if they’re starting large fires.
As of Thursday at noon, most of the province sat at a moderate fire danger rating — with some small pockets reporting high and extreme fire danger.
In northern B.C., the chair of the Regional District of Bulkley-Nechako, says it’s concerning to see fires this early in the season.
Mark Parker says that while snowpack levels are healthy up in the mountains, the valleys still have dry grass in the region.
“If people aren’t aware that the [wildfire] danger is there already, and thinking it’s April and that there’s no big problems — it’s reality that there is,” he said.
“So I would like to just make sure everybody’s aware and takes the caution when they’re out and about enjoying the weekend.”
