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Fire danger rating expected to rise

The fire danger rating in the region is moderate to high, but hot, dry weather in the coming days could increase the risk of a wildfire.

The fire danger rating in the region is moderate to high, but hot, dry weather in the coming days could increase the risk of a wildfire.

Melissa Klassen, fire information officer with the Kamloops Fire Centre, said temperatures in the upper 30s and low relative humidity are expected to increase the danger rating.

The areas near Clearwater and near Lytton and Lillooet are expected to see extreme danger ratings.

“The wildfire risk is going to increase substantially in the next couple of days,” she said.

Rain in late July helped to reduce the risk of fires, but the danger rating has increased since that time.

Because of the hot and dry summer conditions, campfires are banned in the region.

At the last weekend of July , forestry crews checked 395 campers in the area, issuing five warnings and three violation tickets.

Campers are allowed to use propane and gas appliances, but they may not have wood burning appliances.

Briquettes, if used, cannot be put into a fire pit or on the ground.

“We’re trying to mitigate the risk as best as we can,” Klassen said.

So far this year, 306 wildfires have been reported in the region, destroying 4,878 hectares.

Of these, 208 were caused by lightning, while 98 were the result of human activity.

 



John Arendt

About the Author: John Arendt

John Arendt has worked as a journalist for more than 30 years. He has a Bachelor of Applied Arts in Journalism degree from Ryerson Polytechnical Institute.
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