There are 148 fires burning in the province, 14 of which started up Wednesday.
Since April 1st, there have been 794 fires burn over 379,000 hectares. BC Wildfire suppression efforts have cost $154 million, about $9 million more since yesterday’s update.
There’s potential for lightning today and tomorrow across BC and especially in the south, says Fire Information Officer Kevin Skrepnek.
“We expect wind is going to be a challenge. Moderate to strong winds, potentially some gusts in the 40 km/h range are expected in many areas where we are already responding to major fires.”
There are about 4,000 people fighting the fires, including BC crews, out of province, support staff, and contractors.
Over 4k personnel working w/ @BCGovFireInfo. Over 200 aircraft supporting ground crews
— My Prince George Now (@mypgnow) July 27, 2017
The Martin Mountain fire, burning near Monte Lake, started up Tuesday. It’s now 150 hectares. and the dry conditions and recent winds have lead to fast and aggressive growth.
The Elephant Hill fire is now 61,500 hectares and is only 30% contained. The blaze is creating lots of smoke, making a true size assessment difficult.