The state of emergency declared in response to the raging wildfires in British Columbia has been extended until Sept. 1.
This is the third time the state of emergency has been extended since it was called on July 7.
READ MORE: Province declares state of emergency for first time since 2003
Previous extensions were called on July 19 and Aug. 4.
The state of emergency ensures that federal, provincial and local resources can be delivered in a coordinated response.
Evacuated households will continue to receive $600 per household from the Province, renewed every 14 days, until they return home.
Eligible small businesses affected by the fires can now also receive a $1,500 grant through the Canadian Red Cross and the Province.
As of Friday morning, there are 138 wildfires burning in B.C., with 4,400 people still out of their home due to 27 evacuation orders and
40 evacuation alerts impacting approximately 20,700 people.
The state of emergency gives agencies, such as Emergency Management BC, the fire commissioner, the Ministry of Forests, Lands, Natural Resource Operations and Rural Development, and the RCMP the authority, under the Wildfire Act, to take every action necessary to fight the wildfires and protect residents and their communities.