British Columbia’s record-breaking wildfire season, by the numbers

By: The Canadian Press, The Canadian Press Posted:

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British Columbia's wildfire season is the most destructive on record, with more than 15,000 square kilometres of the province burned, surpassing the previous high of 13,543 square kilometres set in 2018.

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Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 27/07/2023 (1166 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

British Columbia’s wildfire season is the most destructive on record, with more than 15,000 square kilometres of the province burned, surpassing the previous high of 13,543 square kilometres set in 2018.

Here are some statistics about the current season from the BC Wildfire Service website, as of 2:30 p.m. Pacific time, July 27.

Total area burned: 15,142 square kilometres

Flames from the Donnie Creek wildfire burn along a ridge top north of Fort St. John, B.C. on Sunday, July 2, 2023. THE CANADIAN PRESS/AP/Noah Berger
Flames from the Donnie Creek wildfire burn along a ridge top north of Fort St. John, B.C. on Sunday, July 2, 2023. THE CANADIAN PRESS/AP/Noah Berger

Fires currently burning: 395, including 21 fires of note

New fires in the past 24 hours: 5

Out-of-control fires: 220

Total number of fires this season: 1,498

Causes of all fires: Lightning, 69 per cent; humans (deliberate and accidental), 24.5 per cent; unknown, 6.5 per cent.

Biggest single fire: Donnie Creek fire, northeastern B.C., 5,831 square kilometres.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published July 27, 2023.

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An evacuation order covering hundreds of properties south of Kamloops, B.C., has been scaled back to an alert as crews make good progress containing a wildfire about 10 kilometres south of the city. The Thompson-Nicola Regional District is allowing residents of 327 properties to return home, although they must be ready to leave on short notice. The Ross Moore Lake wildfire is shown in this handout image provided by the BC Wildfire Service. THE CANADIAN PRESS/HO-BC Wildfire Service *MANDATORY CREDIT*

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