Valley bottoms in Thompson, Okanagan seeing fire activity as wildfire season gets underway | iNFOnews | Thompson-Okanagan's News Source
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Valley bottoms in Thompson, Okanagan seeing fire activity as wildfire season gets underway

The province is at near normal fuel levels for early season wildfire activity, with a forecast for a wildfire season consistent with long-term patterns in B.C.

Early bans on open burning have been extended as the province issues an outlook for the coming wildfire season.

Although initial predictions call for a spring wildfire season typical of long term patterns, the province isn't taking any chances as an early open burning ban issued for some parts of the province was extended yesterday, April 14, to include all parts of the province.

The early burning ban, issued on March 26 prohibited open burning in high smoke sensitive areas, including the Thompson and Okanagan valleys.

Yesterday's ban extended the open burning prohibition until June 15 to all parts of the province, beginning tomorrow, April 16.

In its seasonal outlook, B.C. Wildfire reports valley bottoms are beginning to experience grassfire activity in a pattern typical of most years.

The B.C. Wildfire service expects to see increasing wildfire activity in snow-free areas, but current firefighting methods are keeping most of these wildfires to a small size.

Long term temperature forecasts for April and May indicate a moderate probability for normal temperatures, but precipitation patterns are more difficult to predict. Currently forecasts call for “normal to dry” weather patterns for April and May.

Now is a good time for residents to consider taking steps to prevent wildfires, including clearing debris from yards, mowing dead grasses and cleaning gutters.

More information can be found at the www.bcwildfire.ca and www.firesmartbc.ca websites.


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