B.C. wildfire risk to remain high through the fall [Video]

An expert with the BC Wildfire Service says relentless drought conditions for much of British Columbia sets the stage for more fire activity this fall.

Neal McLoughlin, superintendent of predictive services, says “aggressive fire behaviour” is ongoing in northern B.C., and wildfires there are expected to remain active possibly into next spring.

He says slightly warmer and drier-than-normal conditions are expected across most of B.C. until the middle of October, with the exception of the northwest and coastal regions, which are forecast to get cooler and wetter weather.

McLoughlin says that while the amount of new lightning-caused wildfires is expected to decrease in the coming weeks, dry forests and grasslands remain a concern because they are highly susceptible to ignition.

Noting that 90 per cent of lightning starts generally happen before September, he is reminding people to stay vigilant as the majority of blazes this fall will be human-caused.

The …