While the wildfire situation has improved since late last week, B.C’s Chief Fire Information Officer says the weather forecast is worrying.
Kevin Skrepnek says, there are 100 wildfires burning across the province noting there have been ten new fire starts just this morning with temperatures heading up.
“We were seeing cooler temperatures. Friday, obviously here in Kamloops, we had a great dousing of rain Friday morning as well. I think that was a pretty temporary respite, definitely looking like conditions are going to be right back into a typical summer pattern now. Certainly here Kamloops, Environment Canada is calling for mid-thirties by next weekend. Unfortunately there is definitely some potential for some lightning really across pretty wide swaths of the province today.”
Skrepnek says, a serious look is being taken at expanding a campfire ban already in place for southern Vancouver Island and the coast to the Kamloops and Southeast fire centres.
He says, merging the two big wildfires in the Okanagan over the weekend took some difficult terrain out of play and allows for crews to better attack the blaze.