Fire danger rating expected to increase

The fire danger rating in the region is high to extreme and continued hot, dry weather could increase the risk of a wildfire.

Firefighters were called to a house in Trout Creek on Wednesday afternoon when smoke was seen coming from the building.

Firefighters were called to a house in Trout Creek on Wednesday afternoon when smoke was seen coming from the building.

The fire danger rating in the region is high to extreme and continued hot, dry weather  could increase the risk of a wildfire.

Melissa Klassen, fire information officer with the Kamloops Fire Centre, said temperatures in the upper 30s and low relative humidity are expected to increase the danger rating.

The areas near Clearwater and near Lytton and Lillooet are expected to see extreme danger ratings.

“The wildfire risk is going to increase substantially in the next couple of days,” she said.

Rain in late July helped to reduce the risk of fires, but the danger rating has increased since that time.

Because of the hot and dry summer conditions, campfires are banned in the region.

At the last weekend of July, forestry crews checked 395 campers in the area, issuing five warnings and three violation tickets.

Campers are allowed to use propane and gas appliances, but they may not have wood burning appliances.

Briquettes, if used, cannot be put into a fire pit or on the ground.

“We’re trying to mitigate the risk as best as we can,” Klassen said.

So far this year, 318 wildfires have been reported in the region, destroying 4,878 hectares.

Of these, 218 were caused by lightning, while 100 were the result of human activity.

 

Summerland Review