Rain Allows 'Slight Reset' For B.C. Wildfires But Drought Persists

Recent rainfall has allowed for a slight reset of the wildfire fight in northern British Columbia but “doesn’t erase all the challenges” of this year’s historic fire season.

"While the rain did give our hardworking firefighters a chance to take a deep breath, the wildfire and drought situation remains largely unchanged due to the drought conditions we have been seeing since last summer," said Emergency Management Minister Bowinn Ma in a news conference on Thursday.

The wildfire danger rating has dropped to moderate or low in all but the southeastern corner of the province, however Ma warned that the recent rain and cooler weather don’t ease severe drought conditions across B.C.

The BC Wildfire Service was reporting 395 active wildfires as of Thursday afternoon,  down by about 90 since Monday.

Twenty-one highly visible or potentially threatening fires were listed on the service’s website, with just five new blazes recorded in the previous 24 hours.

Environment Canada is predicting another warming trend is on the way and points to a risk of thunderstorms to wrap up the week in many areas from the central coast, Cariboo, and southern Interior to the northeast and southeast regions of the province.