The 2017 wildfire season is now the second worst in B.C. since records began, according to the BC Wildfire Service.
Since April 1, 491,000 hectares have burned across the province, sending this season over the 483,000 hectares burned in 1961. Only 1958 was even worse 91裸聊视频� 855,000 hectares burned that year.
"2017 season has been extra ordinary in many ways in terms of the aggressive fire weather we91裸聊视频檝e seen" says Kevin Skrepnek.
91裸聊视频� Kat (@katslepian)
As of Thursday afternoon, 126 fires were currently burning in B.C. Eight of those started on Wednesday, for a total of 861 fires in B.C. since April 1.
Firefighting efforts have cost the province $204 million to date.
Emergency Management BC executive director Chris Duffy said that 6,700 people remain under evacuation orders, while 24,800 are under evacuation alerts.
Chief fire information officer Kevin Skrepnek called the past month 91裸聊视频渦nprecedented91裸聊视频� in terms of new fires, aggressive fire behaviour and hot conditions. In early July, the province saw more than 200 fires start in about 48 hours.
91裸聊视频淲e are only in early August at this point so this season is far from over,91裸聊视频� said Skrepnek. 91裸聊视频淎ugust is unfortunately typically one of our busiest months. This current situation could get worse before it gets better.91裸聊视频�
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The forecast still isn91裸聊视频檛 looking good, he said. Hot, dry and slightly windy conditions are expected to continue for the Cariboo and the southern parts of the province.
91裸聊视频淭emperatures are expected to ease a little bit after today, but it91裸聊视频檚 still in the mid-30s for many parts of B.C.91裸聊视频� he said.
More on controlled burn that went out of control
Skrepnek continued to take questions from reporters on his daily update about a controlled burn near 20 Mile Ranch and Clinton, near Cache Creek, going 91裸聊视频渉orribly wrong,91裸聊视频� as one resident put it.
He said controlled burns remain the best way to fight large, aggressive fires.
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91裸聊视频淭his was an unfortunate turn of the weather,91裸聊视频� said Skrepnek. 91裸聊视频淭he fact that this happened is a bit of an aberration.91裸聊视频�
He said acknowledged the back burn, which caused the fire to jump west over Hwy. 97, has increased the size of that fire.
91裸聊视频淭o be frank, this is an active fire,91裸聊视频� he said. 91裸聊视频淚f we hadn91裸聊视频檛 taken action, it likely would have gone into this area regardless.91裸聊视频�
That's despite a controlled burn near having gone wrong:
91裸聊视频� Kat (@katslepian)
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