Province fears another bad fire season

VICTORIA, British Columbia – The British Columbia government is bracing for another bad forest fire season, Solicitor General Rich Coleman says.

“Current drought and fuel conditions indicate that this fire season could be as bad as last year,” said Coleman, who is responsible for emergency services.

Last year wildfires blackened more than 1,000 square miles in the province, the highest total on record. About 50,000 people were evacuated and more than 300 homes were lost, including much of a Kelowna subdivision that was consumed by a fast-moving, 10-story wall of flame.

So far this year, fires have cost the government $3.7 million (U.S.), Coleman said at an open provincial Cabinet meeting.

“Last year at this time there had been 195 fires,” he said. “This year there have been 310 fires.”

The threat may be easing in some areas. Kevin Matuga, spokesman for the Kamloops fire center, said the parched area received double its normal rainfall in May, most of it in the last 10 days, but was quick to add that more is needed.