Provincial Wildfire Status Update – July 4, 2023



It was a busy long weekend for the BC Wildfire Service. Since Friday, teams from across the province responded to 46 new wildfire starts. Thanks to diligent reporting from the public and quick action of aviation and ground resources, 35 of these new fire starts are Out, Under Control, or Being Held. Of the 46 new wildfires from the weekend, 30 percent were human-caused.

The BC Wildfire Service would like to thank members of the public for their vigilance this long weekend. Over 1,000 reports of wildfire were received.

The majority of activity over the last three days has been in the Prince George and Coastal fire centres. Cooler temperatures and precipitation decreased fire activity in some areas of the Prince George Fire Centre.

Nationally, the wildfire situation remains very active with over 3,300 wildfires started so far this year, concentrated in Quebec, Ontario, Alberta, and B.C. International crews are supporting efforts across Canada, and B.C. is coordinating additional out-of-province resources through the Canadian Interagency Forest Fire Centre (CIFFC).

Weather

B.C. can expect more of the same warm and dry conditions this week. A ridge of high pressure is settling over the province, which will continue to dry forest fuels, particularly in the Interior and Vancouver Island. On Wednesday, the risk of lightning increases over parts of Vancouver Island and eastern B.C.

Over the next few days, smoke from wildfires in B.C. and Alberta will spread across the province. This is expected to dissipate later in the week.

Wildfires of Note

Fire CentreCampfiresCategory 2
Open Burning
Category 3
Open Burning
Forest Use 
and Area Restrictions
Cariboo Fire CentreBC Wildfire fire permittedBC Wildfire Service click icon for more information about bans and restrictionsBC Wildfire Service click icon for more information about bans and restrictionsN/A
Coastal Fire CentreBC Wildfire Service click icon for more information about bans and restrictionsBC Wildfire Service click icon for more information about bans and restrictionsBC Wildfire Service click icon for more information about bans and restrictionsN/A
Kamloops Fire CentreBC Wildfire fire permittedBC Wildfire Service click icon for more information about bans and restrictionsBC Wildfire Service click icon for more information about bans and restrictionsN/A
Northwest Fire CentreBC Wildfire Service click icon for more information about bans and restrictionsBC Wildfire Service click icon for more information about bans and restrictionsBC Wildfire Service click icon for more information about bans and restrictionsN/A
Prince George Fire CentreBC Wildfire Service click icon for more information about bans and restrictionsBC Wildfire Service click icon for more information about bans and restrictionsBC Wildfire Service click icon for more information about bans and restrictionsBC Wildfire Service click icon for more information about bans and restrictions
Southeast Fire CentreBC Wildfire fire permittedBC Wildfire fire permittedBC Wildfire Service click icon for more information about bans and restrictionsN/A

The next Provincial Wildfire Status Update will be provided on July 6, 2023

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