2024 saw over 1,680 wildfires across BC.
That comes from the BC government, finding that since April 1, 1,688 wildfires led to 1.08 million hectares burned in the province. That is a big decrease compared to the over 2.84 million hectares burned in 2023.
They say over 70 percent of the fires were caused by lightning, while less than 30 percent were by people. These fires led to 51 evacuation orders and 112 evacuation alerts, affecting a combined total of over 15,700 properties.
Minister of Emergency Management and Climate Readiness Kelly Greene says people’s lives are getting more impacted by the effects of climate change.
“We must be proactive in how we prepare for climate-driven emergencies,” said Greene.
Because of climate change’s impact, advanced wildfire strategies for rural and remote communities are seeing more demand.
As a result, the BC Wildfire Service is working with local community members to support response efforts for their communities, while the Province aims to expand the number of tools to crews when it comes to dealing with wildfires.
