British Columbia's wildfire season is now the most destructive on record, with about 14,000 square kilometres of the province burned, surpassing the previous high of 13,543 square kilometres set in 2018. The Young Creek wildfire is seen from the air in an undated handout photo. THE CANADIAN PRESS/HO-BC Wildfire Service, *MANDATORY CREDIT*
British Columbia’s wildfire season is now the most destructive on record, with about 14,000 square kilometres of the province burned, surpassing the previous high of 13,543 square kilometres set in 2018.
Here are some statistics about the current season from the BC Wildfire Service website, as of noon Pacific time, July 18.
Total area burned: 13,986 square kilometres
Fires currently burning: 398, including 21 fires of note
New fires in past 24 hours: 37
Out-of-control fires: 260
Total number of fires this season: 1,190
Causes of all fires: Lightning, 65 per cent; humans (deliberate and accidental) 29 per cent; unknown, 6 per cent.
Biggest single fire: Donnie Creek fire, northeastern B.C., 5,831 square kilometres
This report by The Canadian Press was first published July 18, 2023.
