More than 500 firefighters from other countries are in the province, and highways are closed and people are being told to leave
On Saturday, hundreds of firefighters and soldiers from other countries are helping to put out more than 400 wildfires in B.C.
The B.C. Wildfire Service (BCWS) says that there are 500 international firefighters in the province, helping more than 2,000 provincial firefighters on the front lines. This number went up on Friday when 100 firefighters from Brazil arrived.
It comes as fires in B.C. have already broken the record for the most area burned during a wildfire season, burning over 14,600 square kilometers more than the historic 2018 season.
Most of the important fires in B.C. are in the northwest. These are the fires that people can see and that may be a threat to public safety.
Angela Burford, an Australian wildfire information officer stationed in Vanderhoof, B.C., said on Friday, “We don’t have all the resources we’d like because it’s such a big, ongoing job all over B.C. and the country.”
“We’re putting all of our attention on the most important fires and making sure that communities, important infrastructure, and, of course, people’s lives come first.”
As of Saturday afternoon, regional authorities across B.C. had sent out more than 50 emergency alerts, including orders to evacuate and alerts.
Burford and dozens of other people are in Vanderhoof, where they are helping to control more than 40 fires in the area. She said she was grateful for the help Canada gave her during fire seasons in Australia in the past.
She said, “It’s an honor to be able to come here and help out in return for the wonderful Canadians who came to help us a few years ago.” “It’s also great to work with people from other countries who are all here to help.”
Burford said that the Canadian Armed Forces were also in Vanderhoof to help firefighters clean up and contain the fires so they could work on bigger fires.
Maj. Keith Hancharuk, who is part of the Edmonton-based Princess Patricia Canadian Light Infantry, said that the people of Vanderhoof are very thankful for the army’s help.
“People have stopped in the middle of the street, rolled down their windows, thanked us for being here, and started talking to us on the spot,” he said. “Can’t say enough thanks to the people of Vanderhoof for helping us help them.”
Highway 20 close
DriveBC says that Highway 20 is closed in both directions east of Bella Coola because of a wildfire that has grown to cover more than 25 square kilometers.
The B.C. Wildfire Service says that high temperatures, low humidity, and strong winds have made the Young Creek wildfire, which is about 35 kilometers west of Anahim Lake, act more like a wildfire.
The Cariboo Regional District issued an evacuation order for 43 square kilometers near the town of Anahim Lake on Friday, telling people to leave right away using the highway. This is why the highway is closed.
There are watches for storms and warnings about the heat
Officials say that there will be more fires in southern B.C. because the north of the province will be cooler and wetter.
A large part of northern and central B.C., including Prince George, Fort Nelson, and the Peace River region, is under a severe thunderstorm watch.
Environment Canada says that Kamloops, Vancouver Island, and the Lower Mainland will have hot, dry weather for a while. There are heat advisories for the Boundary, Fraser Canyon, Kootenay Lake, Okanagan Valley, and South Thompson regions.
The wildfire near the St. Mary’s River northeast of Cranbrook, B.C., in the southeast has already destroyed homes and forced many people to leave their homes. The Canadian Rockies International Airport was also told to evacuate on Friday.
Officials say that small spots of the fire were seen on the east side of the Kootenay River on Saturday, and control lines north of the airport have been holding.