A very wet spring in B.C. has contributed to the slowest start to the wildfire season in recent memory.

There have been 176 fires this year, which have burned 651 hectares, well below the 10-year average for this time of year of about 370 fires and about 28,000 hectares burned.

BC Wildfire Service information officer Karley Desrosiers says the biggest reason has been wet weather, and she says Category 2 and 3 fires were banned for most of the spring.

“There are certain regions in the province where there are still Category 3 prohibitions in place. Category 2 fires are being permitted, but for likely a limited time. But that will be monitored.”

Desrosiers adds that she’s not sure if less human activity in the back country during the COVID-19 pandemic has in any way lessened the fire risk as well.

The fire danger rating is between moderate and very low for all of southern B.C., with small pockets of a high fire risk in the northernmost parts of B.C.