2023 Nearing B.C.'S Worst Wildfire Season On Record

British Columbia is nearing its worst wildfire season on record.

Fire has consumed nearly 13-thousand square kilometres of land in the province so far this year - about 600 square kilometres away from the record set in 2018, which was the worst year on record.

Canadian Armed Forces troops have been arriving in the province the last couple of days to assist - two companies are heading to central BC.

About 2-thousand BC firefighters are also getting help from crews from the United States, Mexico and New Zealand.

Others are expected to arrive in the coming days.

Flights into and out of the Canadian Rockies International Airport in Cranbrook were cancelled yesterday after a fire popped up in the area. It also forced the ‘tactical evacuation’ of a nearby First Nation.

Meanwhile, an advisory from the provincial coroner.

As confirmed by his parents, the BC Coroners Service is investigating the death of nine-year-old Carter Vigh of 100 Mile House, related to an existing medical condition aggravated by wildfire smoke.

As the province experiences greater impacts from the effects of climate change, British Columbians are learning more about the risks associated with wildfire smoke, extreme heat and other environmental factors. This greater awareness can help us respond when risks are identified.

The tragic loss of life during the 2021 heat dome resulted in far greater public awareness of the potentially fatal impacts of extreme heat.

Our communities are now becoming more aware of the risks presented by wildfire smoke and the measures that can be taken to reduce those risks.

The Province issues air-quality advisories and smoky-skies bulletins whenever an area of B.C. has been or is reasonably expected to be impacted by wildfire smoke. British Columbians can sign up to be automatically notified of air-quality warnings via an air-quality subscription service.

Smoke from wildfires is especially dangerous for people with pre-existing heart and lung conditions, older people, and infants and young children.

The best ways to protect yourself from the impacts of the smoke are to reduce exposure by:

• staying indoors with windows closed.
• keeping windows closed and air conditioning on when driving.
• reducing time spent outdoors and avoiding rigorous outdoor exercise.
• using high-quality, portable air cleaners with HEPA filtration to remove smoke particles from indoor air.
• visiting places with controlled air supply, such as shopping malls, swimming pools or public libraries.

For more information, visit Government of British Columbia.