Latest news with #SarahBudd
Global News
3 days ago
- Climate
- Global News
Preparedness, weather conditions helping initial wildfire attack success in B.C.
Crews made quick work of a wildfire burning in the hills above West Kelowna, B.C., on Wednesday morning, knocking it down in just a few hours. Air and ground resources hit the blaze hard, keeping it to under one hectare — a success story that's becoming common across B.C. this season. 'About 90 per cent of fires are being captured while they're still in what we would consider initial attack capabilities — around four hectares,' said Sarah Budd with the BC Wildfire Service. In just over a month, three separate wildfires flared up in the Okanagan — Whelan Creek, Drought Hill, and Conifryd Creek — but all were brought under control within days, some within hours. Budd says a combination of weather and preparedness is helping crews stay ahead. Get breaking National news For news impacting Canada and around the world, sign up for breaking news alerts delivered directly to you when they happen. Sign up for breaking National newsletter Sign Up By providing your email address, you have read and agree to Global News' Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy 'We've seen conditions across the province, and specifically in the Kamloops Fire Centre and the Okanagan, that are more favourable for our initial attack response,' she said. Story continues below advertisement Recent rainfall and easing drought levels have played a major role. 'When we compare drought codes from last year to this year, we've simply had more rain. Forest fuels — even deeper layers — are less receptive,' Budd explained. That quick response was especially evident on the Drought Hill fire near Peachland, according to Peachland Fire Rescue Chief Ian Cummings. 'It was a combination of everything,' he said. 'Our mutual aid partners — West Kelowna, Kelowna, RDCO — sent a lot of resources. And of course, BC Wildfire's ground and aerial crews were quick to jump on it.' The BC Wildfire Service also made strategic changes ahead of this year's season, securing longer-term contracts to ensure heavy-lift helicopters are available during peak months. The province has also expanded its use of Night Vision Imaging Systems (NVIS), which allow crews to fight fires even after dark. 'It helps us because we can do bucketing operations through the night to keep fire behaviour down,' Budd said. 'But we can also use that capability for scanning.' Despite recent successes, crews remain on high alert. Northerly wind gusts of up to 70 km/h are expected to move in with a cold front — a combination that raises the risk of new ignitions. 'A storm usually follows that — lightning, heavy winds — so we have to be on edge here,' said Chief Cummings.
CTV News
03-06-2025
- Climate
- CTV News
Experts warn heavy winds in forecast could exacerbate B.C. wildfire situation
Plumes of smoke from a wildfire are seen in a handout image from the B.C. Wildfire Service. ildfires continue to rage across the country, including in B.C., fuelled by drought and warmer temperatures. The B.C. Wildfire Service says more heat in the forecast – along with heavy winds – may threaten local firefighting efforts. There are currently 69 active wildfires burning across the province, 52 of which are classified as 'out of control,' including some that were sparked over the weekend. 'New starts from that lightning activity on Sunday into today could also result in new starts again, particularly in that northern part of the Prince George fire centre or the Fort Nelson fire zones,' explained Sarah Budd, a fire information officer. Among the ongoing wildfires is the Kiskatinaw Creek blaze in northeastern B.C., just south of Dawson Creek, where an evacuation order that forcing dozens to flee their homes last week remains in place. The Peace River Regional District said emergency support services for the Kelly Lake area have been extended by seven days, to June 8, 'out of an abundance of caution based on recommendations from B.C. Wildfire Service due to uncertain fire conditions.' Lori Daniels, chair in Wildfire Co-existence at UBC, said the current weather conditions are also re-igniting earlier fires. 'We also have holdover fires, fires that started two years ago in May 2023 and are still burning. As it becomes warm and dry again in the spring, they pop back up into the surface and they're contributing to the early start to the fire season here in B.C.,' Daniels said. She's concerned for what's to come – and is preparing for another devastating wildfire season this summer. 'It is worrisome. This early fire season in 2025 is feeling very reminiscent of the 2023 fire season, which proved to be a record-breaking fire season across all of Canada,' Daniels said. Lightning is confirmed as the cause of the Kiskatinaw Creek fire, where crews anticipate increased fire behavior in the coming days. B.C. Forests Minister Ravi Parmar said the province is ready. '2023 was the worst wildfire season on record, over 2 million hectares burned, and we need to do our part to make sure we are better prepared,' Parmar said. Risk 'quite great' for high-activity fires Sophie Wilkinson, an assistant professor at Simon Fraser University in resource and environmental management, is also closely watching the wildfire season unfold, and is concerned for this summer. 'It's not a great indication that we are seeing such an early uptick in fire activity, especially with this being across so many provinces,' said Wilkinson. 'It's really indicative that the fuels on the ground are especially dry and vulnerable to fire.' Wilkinson said the drought conditions over the past few years have exacerbated fire behavior, and at this point, rainfall might not even provide much relief. 'Even if we do get precipitation, it often co-occurs with lightning and lightning is one of our biggest ignition sources – and so the risk of these sorts of high activity fires to continue is quite great,' she said. Daniels said the situation should serve as a reminder for people to be proactive and fire smart. Residents should 'get our houses and yards ready for fire season' and 'think ahead with those proactive activities that we can do,' Daniels said. The province is urging British Columbians to check Fire Smart BC for guidance in preparing for a wildfire event. 'I think it's really important that all of us realize that almost half of fires, that start both in B.C. and across Canada, are started by people,' Daniels added. 'So those are preventable fires.'
