‘The climate crisis is here’: B.C. warns of early start to 2024 wildfire season

The provincial government is warning residents it will likely be an early start to the 2024 wildfire season given the current conditions across B.C.

The province said there will likely be more fires in an update on Monday, and residents should be ready to respond to conditions.

“The climate crisis is here and we are feeling the impact of climate change,” Minister of Emergency Management and Climate Readiness, Bowinn Ma said.

“As the impact of the climate crisis intensifies, we have learned that we need to be ready to support people who are impacted.”

4:33 B.C. warns of upcoming fire season, saying an earlier start is expected

The underlying deep drought conditions will remain in place as the 2024 fire season approaches.

Ma said it is “no secret” that many parts of the province did not accumulate the snowpack they were hoping for.

As of the snow bulletin on March 1, the average provincial snowpack is 66 per cent of normal, based on the average from 1991 to 2020.

According to projections, residual heat in the Pacific Ocean will continue to support the likelihood for warmer and drier than normal conditions through the remainder of the 2023-24 winter and into spring.

While it is hard to predict the weather, the province says the amount of rain required to mitigate the current drought is unlikely.

1:51 Wildfire burning ‘out of control’ near Lumby, B.C.

“It seems like it was just yesterday when tens of thousands of people were evacuated from their communities due to wildfire,” Ma said.

“Many people lost their homes, their properties, their lives and livelihoods have been impacted. It is hard to imagine the emotional toll that people went through and continue to go through as they work to rebuild their lives.”

Balmy weather across much of British Columbia helped set dozens of new temperature records across the province on Saturday.

Environment Canada said a ridge of high pressure brought warm temperatures to the province this weekend, with above-normal conditions forecast to continue into this week.

A wildfire discovered burning in the North Okanagan on Sunday is now being held.

According to the BC Wildfire Service (BCWS), a fire burning in the Creighton Valley area, just outside of Lumby, grew to roughly three hectares, 320,000 square feet, before firefighters stopped its growth.

Premier David Eby previously said he is “profoundly worried” about the upcoming fire season but added that the province is “standing up an army of firefighters” to prepare.

5:35 Documentary on Bush Creek Fire

“Last year’s wildfire season was the worst in our province’s history and we know how incredibly difficult it was for everyone,” Bruce Ralston, Minister of Forests said.

“Our top priority is keeping people safe, which is why we continue to take significant action to prevent and prepare for wildfires as we head into spring and summer. We know the impacts of climate change are arriving faster than predicted. We will keep actioning the recommendations from the expert task force to make sure we are ready for wildfires when and where they happen.”