The province is warning of the potential for Vancouver Island and the rest of BC’s wildfire situation to worsen significantly in the coming days.
Experts say that dry lightning and strong winds that will hit the island over the weekend could ignite and spread wildfires in a rapid and devastating way.
Vancouver Islanders are being urged to prepare for evacuations if need be and be sure to follow all regional fire regulations. Currently the coastal region of BC, which encompasses all of Vancouver Island, has an active ban on all kinds of fires, even small campfires.
Over the past week, the whole province has dealt with record-setting heat waves that have contributed to unprecedented levels of drought, perfectly setting BC up for mass, unmanageable wildfires. The situation is especially dire in the southern regions of the province.
This week, a wildfire which wiped out the entire urban region of Lahaina, Hawaii saw 106 people confirmed to be dead with over 1,000 still missing.
Furthermore, a wildfire that has encroached upon Yellowknife, Northwest Territories has caused a mass evacuation order to try to protect residents against a fate similar to that of Lahaina.
On Thursday, August 17th, Premier David Eby made a statement regarding the situation in Yellowknife.
“Our hearts are with the people of the Northwest Territories,” said Premier Eby.
“We are working actively with the Northwest Territories and western provinces to provide all the support we can. We will provide further details as they are confirmed.”
“Canadians stand together in hard times and B.C. is ready to help the people of the Northwest Territories, just as other provinces have assisted us in times of need,” Eby added.
Because of the stage being set for additional wildfires in BC, the province recommends the following to stay vigilant and safe:
- Listen to evacuation orders when they are given
- Have a plan for where you could go if an evacuation did occur in your region
- If you see a wildfire, report it immediately to the BC Wildfire Service by calling 1-800-663-5555
- Take extreme care to avoid starting a wildfire
BC Wildfire Service say their crews are working diligently to protect people’s lives and property, as well as critical infrastructure.
As of this publication, there are 369 active wildfires in BC and 13 of those are located on Vancouver Island.
