Almost 1.5 million hectares burned in B.C. since April

Almost 1.5 million hectares have burned in B.C. since the beginning of April.

It’s expected that number will get higher as wildfire season drags on.

More than 80 per cent of all wildfires burning across the province right now were started by lightning.

3:09 The 2023 B.C. wildfire season officially most destructive ever

Detection planes have been flying over B.C. to try and catch any new fires that have started, especially in areas where lightning was known to hit.

The province is taking the time to thank firefighters from all over Canada and the world who are coming to help B.C. in its time of need.

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“In addition to the 100 Brazilian firefighters coming tomorrow, we have Mexican firefighting support, the United States has been a significant support to our firefighting effort, as well as Australia,” said Cliff Chapman with the BC Wildfire Service.

“All of those countries are in B.C. right now, and, after tomorrow, we will have over 500 resources from outside B.C.

“That, in combination with our hundreds of contract resources from B.C., is allowing us to get our number to a place where we feel our capacity is right for the amount of fires we’re dealing with in this province.”

2:15 Seven homes destroyed by wildfire near Cranbrook

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In the days and weeks ahead, it is predicted conditions will challenging.

Rain could fall in northern B.C., but there will still be hot, dry weather in the southern part of the province and conditions will be ideal for larger fires, officials warn.

There are currently 380 wildfires burning in the province with 22 wildfires of note.