Canada: Wildfires in British Columbia continue /update 3

Event

Major wildfires continue to rage in the western province of British Columbia, as of July 18, leading to tens of thousands of people being evacuated in recent days (e.g. in Williams Lake, Loon Lake, Tatla Lake, Big Creek, and Clinton). A state of emergency, initially declared on July 8, remains in place as intense heat, strong winds, and dry conditions continue to hinder firefighting efforts. According to authorities, over 3000 firefighters and support personnel have been deployed, with an additional 500 Royal Canadian Mountain Police officers being sent to assist. Authorities expect the fires to worsen over the coming days.

Context

According to British Colombia Wildlife Services, there were 116 wildfires burning as of July 16, 15 of which were threatening communities. So far 37,000 people have been evacuated from their homes.

Wildfires are common in British Columbia, particularly in the summer, with some 2000 fires reported annually on average. However, two weeks of dry weather has made these current fires more difficult to contain than normal.

Advice

Individuals are advised to exercise caution when traveling in areas affected by the wildfires, to adhere to all instructions issued by the local authorities (e.g. evacuation orders), and to keep abreast of the situation.