Around Kamloops, where 344 homes had to be evacuated because of a fire to the south, it might rain less often
For the first time in more than a month, rain and cooler temperatures are coming to dry parts of British Columbia. This could give people working to put out hundreds of wildfires a break.
Environment Canada says that Vancouver Island and Metro Vancouver should get about 20 millimeters of rain.
But there might be less rain around Kamloops, where 344 homes had to be evacuated because of a fire south of the city.
The B.C. Wildfire Service (BCWS) says the fire was first seen on Friday and now covers 18 square kilometers. This caused the Thompson-Nicola Regional District to dramatically increase evacuation orders on Sunday.
Strong winds have helped spread the fire, which is one of almost 500 active wildfires in B.C., which is an increase of about 100 in just three days.
In southern B.C., the risk of wildfires is high to extreme. This includes the area around Cranbook, where the St. Mary’s River fire, which started a week ago and has burned 40 square kilometers and forced hundreds of people to leave their homes or be put on alert.
Environment Canada thinks that it won’t rain in Cranbrook and most of the southeast corner of British Columbia, and temperatures won’t drop.
The BCWS says there are 487 active wildfires in the province, and 28 of them started in the last 24 hours. More than half of these fires are out of control.