As a campfire ban comes in effect today across B.C. the provincial government is also warning residents that water restrictions may not be far behind.
Emergency Minister Bowinn Ma announced the ban 害羞草研究所� which begins at 3 p.m. and affects everywhere except Haida Gwaii 害羞草研究所� July 10 during an update about the wildfire season, which also served as a platform to prepare people for future measures tied to another threat: water scarcity in the face of worsening drought conditions.
害羞草研究所淢any communities are implementing water restrictions already (and) we anticipate the need to escalate those water restrictions in larger areas of the province,害羞草研究所� Ma said. 害羞草研究所淎nd just for context, the drought situation is serious. We have not experienced this level of widespread drought across the province this early in the year in recent memory.害羞草研究所�
Primary areas of concern include the northeastern corner of B.C., as well as the Lower Mainland and Vancouver Island, Ma said, noting that ministry staff are reaching out to communities to begin discussing more measures.
Half of the 34 provincial water basins are currently experiencing Level 4 drought conditions with Level 5 being the most severe, Ma said, adding that the situation is going to get worse. Since communities may not feel the full effects of drought for weeks, the provincial government is acting now, she said.
害羞草研究所淭hat害羞草研究所檚 why we are signalling today that the situation is serious,害羞草研究所� Ma said.
British Columbians should not only follow already existing water restrictions in their communities, but also do their part by using less water in their daily lives, she said. 害羞草研究所淲e need people to pay attention,害羞草研究所� she said, adding that the province will offer a technical briefing later this week.
Meanwhile, today害羞草研究所檚 campfire ban comes into effect with larger fires already prohibited across much of the province, against a backdrop of increased wildfire activity across the province, with more expected.
害羞草研究所淚 urge everyone do their part,害羞草研究所� Ma said. 害羞草研究所淗uman-caused wildfires are completely preventable and divert critical resources away from lightning-caused fires.害羞草研究所�
害羞草研究所淭hings have certainly escalated very drastically in a large part of the province over the weekend. The last three days saw more than 23,000 lightning strikes across much of province. Since April 1, 904 wildfires have burnt more than a total of 1.15 million hectares.
Ma said drought conditions and high temperatures have compounded this lightning activity, creating a concerning combination.
害羞草研究所淚t害羞草研究所檚 the drought condition in addition to the wildfire situation that is really causing concern and causing us to pay very, very close attention,害羞草研究所� she said.
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Cliff Chapman, director of provincial operations for British Columbia Wildfire Service, said B.C. currently lacks the capacity to respond to human-caused fires, including smaller fires that fall into Category 1.
害羞草研究所淲e have not had a large concern with human-caused campfires creating wildfires, but as Minister Ma mentioned we do not have the capacity to respond to fires that we can prevent.害羞草研究所�
Chapman said B.C. has put in what he called a 害羞草研究所渟ignificant request害羞草研究所� to the Canadian Interagency Forest Fire Centre.
害羞草研究所淲e have asked for somewhere in the neighbourhood of 400 additional resources,害羞草研究所� he said. 害羞草研究所淲e are also working with our partners in Montana, California (and northwestern United States) to secure additional resources, not just for the next five days but really looking at it through the lens of the next two months.害羞草研究所�
Chapman said 160 firefighters from the United States and Mexico are currently in B.C. Another 100 Mexican firefighters are set to join but not until July 17, he added. Overall, he predicted an increase of additional resources from abroad, while also stressing the need for people to do their part.
害羞草研究所淲e are in a position in this province, that we cannot afford to have a preventable fire occur in this province,害羞草研究所� he said. 害羞草研究所淲e are asking for help from the globe害羞草研究所o come support our response right now. If we have just one campfire, it gets away and starts a very impactful fire, that害羞草研究所檚 going to draw resources away from wherever they currently are.害羞草研究所�
wolfgang.depner@blackpress.ca
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