The province declared a state of emergency on Wednesday morning, citing the more than 500 wildfires burning across B.C. as of Aug. 14.
The more than 560 wildfires have sparked 29 evacuation orders affecting more than 3,000 people, and 48 evacuation alerts affecting almost 19,000 people.
Including this year, there have been four total states of emergency issued due to wildfires: 1996, 2003, 2017 and 2018.
Since, BC Wildfire chief fire information officer Kevin Skrepnek said that $214 million has been spent to fight 1,821 fires that have burned up 381,000 hectares of B.C. forests.
That鈥檚 $118 million less than this time last year, Skrepnek noted.
More than 3,372 firefighters are working around B.C., including 436 personnel from other provinces, Parks Canada, Australia, Mexico and New Zealand.
The fires show no signs of abating, the province noted, as the forecast calls for hot and dry weather, as well as lightning, for much of B.C.
. talking about the complexities of fighting interface fires.
鈥� Kat Slepian (@katslepian)
"There's concerns about how we operate around infrastructure" + people.
"This cluster of fires in the central part of the province is definitely a priority for us."
On Monday, federal Public Safety Minister Ralph Goodale said Ottawa would send 200 Canadian Forces troops to help fight wildfires in B.C.
Although Skrepnek said there weren鈥檛 currently plans on how exactly to deploy the troops, he said they would likely be used in a similar fashion to last year.
鈥淲e鈥檙e certainly not sending them out to fires that are starting, they鈥檙e not going to be frontline first responder firefighters,鈥� said Skrepnek.
鈥淲e鈥檙e going to utilize them more so in the mop-up of fires. After it鈥檚 been largely contained, we get them on the ground to do a lot of the grunt work.鈥�
BC Wildfires 2018:
The state of emergency will last for 14 days, at which time it can be renewed. It gives authorities extra powers to help deal with the crisis.
鈥淧ublic safety is always our first priority and, as wildfire activity is expected to increase, this is a progressive step in our wildfire response to make sure British Columbia has access to any and all resources necessary,鈥� said B.C. Public Safety Minister Mike Farnworth in a release.
鈥淭aking this step will further ensure we can protect the public, property and infrastructure, and assist with firefighting efforts.鈥�
However, speaking to reporters later, Donaldson said there were no specific plans to set up a new wildfire assistance fund.
Instead he pointed to already existing provincial programs.
鈥淚n terms of the longer term issue of what financial assistance is available, that will depend in part on, one the wildfires are over, we鈥檙e able to get sense of the damage that has taken place,鈥� said Donaldson.
However, Donaldson was firm that whatever money needs to be spent to fight wildfires will be spent.
鈥淲e spend what鈥檚 required to keep people safe and keep fires under controls,鈥� he said.
That鈥檚 regardless of what kind of fire season we have.鈥�
Although both 2017 and 2018 have been intense years with states of emergency issued, Skrepnek said they were 鈥渧ery different fire seasons.鈥�
Last year, the province issued a 10-week state of emergency on July 7.
In 2017, much of the fires that burned up more than a million hectares of land started in early July, and most evacuees were back to their homes by this time.
Despite some forecast rain bringing 鈥渁 glimmer of hope鈥� to the southeastern parts of the province, Skrepnek said there鈥檚 no sign of the 鈥渕ajor rain event鈥� fire crews need to get a grip on major wildfires.
鈥淩ain. We need rain,鈥� he said.
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Forests Minister Doug Donaldson rebuffed concerns that the province hadn鈥檛 begun wildfire preparations early enough.
Citing completed in the spring, Donaldson said the province brought in fire crews and aircraft onto fire scenes earlier.
鈥淲e increased our communication with important stakeholders early on in the fire season,鈥� Donaldson said.
鈥淥ne of the recommendations we are going to be taking action on鈥� more burning around communities, more fuel management around communities.鈥�
Although Donaldson acknowledged that controlled burns often make nearby communities nervous, he emphasized the safety and caution of the operations.
鈥淲hen we do burn during a fire season, it鈥檚 under expert authority,鈥� said Donaldson.
鈥淲e did already increase the number of controlled burns this spring鈥� [prescribed burns] are an incredible tool to manage fuel buildup.鈥�
鈥淔orest fires are a natural part of the ecosystem.鈥� Prescribed burns are 鈥渁n incredible tool to manage fuel buildup.鈥�
Last August, after strong winds caused the fire to jump Highway 97 and threaten nearby ranches and home.
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