Evacuation Orders, Alerts Grow In Spite Of Showers For Much Of B.C.

For the first time in more than a month, showers and cooler weather are reaching parched sections of British Columbia, potentially bringing some respite for crews battling hundreds of wildfires.

Environment Canada says about 20 millimetres of rain should dampen Vancouver Island and Metro Vancouver.

But showers could be spottier around Kamloops, where the Ross Moore Lake wildfire just south of the city has forced the evacuation of 344 properties.

The fire, which has been fanned by strong winds, is one of nearly 500 active wildfires across B.C., an increase of about 100 in barely three days.

The B.C. Wildfire service is reporting that across the province, there are 487 active wildfires, including 28 in the past 24 hours.

The weather service says more than half of those rank as out of control.

In total, British Columbia has seen 1,463 fires to date in 2023, burning just under 15,000 square kilometres of land.