The city of Revelstoke is lifting its campfire ban starting Friday, Sept. 2 at noon, following the lead taken by the Southeast Fire Centre, which is also allowing campfires and continuing to prohibit bigger fires.
"The combination of shorter days, better overnight recoveries, and cumulative rainfall has reduced the need to prohibit campfires in the Southeast," reads an Aug. 31 online information bulletin from B.C. Wildfire Services.
Revelstoke FireCchief Steven DeRousie warns people to keep being smart as they start burning campfires again. Have water handy and plan for a way to put out your fire, with a shovel or a water source. Don't leave the fire unattended.
"Be the safest you can," he said.
The province also lifted the restriction on Aug. 24 to access certain parts of the Akolkolex Forest Service Road. Although fire crews are still working on an active wildfire in the area, it's safe for the public to use the road.
B.C. minister of forests Katrine Conroy yesterday advised British Columbians to remain vigilante about fires in the coming months.
She was speaking along with Neal McLoughlin, the superintendent of predictive services for B.C. Wildfire Services, to give a live, online update on the fire season so far, and predictions about what's to come in September.
It's the lowest number of human caused fires on record for the province. Lightning caused 75 per cent of the wildfires this year.
"So we’re asking all British Columbians to continue the great work that you have all been doing.” Conroy said.
Temperatures in September are forecasted to remain above normal, and winds are expected to pick up. Although this summer was hotter than average, and drier than average in some areas, winds were calm.
"July and August saw repeating pattern of high pressure ridges followed by upper lows, bringing new lightning starts," said McLoughlin, "but in general the weather pattern produced light winds and stable atmospheres, those play a big role in limiting fire growth.”
The late start to the season also helped manage fires.
As hot, dry conditions continue into the fall, McLoughlin says they're watching out for stronger winds and drying grass being fire hazards.
Lightning lit double the number of fires this August, compared to the 20 year average. That's when a lightning storm in Revelstoke started around 30 fires overnight in the area.
Now 19 wildfires continue to burn in the Revelstoke area. Three out of control, most of them classified as "being held."
As of Aug. 31, 182 fires burned in B.C. In total this year, 1355 fires burned 43,000 hectares.
This is lower than the 20 year average for British Columbia this time of year, which is 1,515 fires and 259,601 hectares burned. This time last year there had been 1,562 fires, burning 865,298 hectares.
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