Although the B.C. Wildfire Service predicted an early start to the wildfire season due to below-normal snowpack levels, the Northwest Fire Centre has seen an average start to the season.
As of Friday May 5, the Northwest Fire Centre had had 10 wildfires, all human caused. The closest one to Burns Lake occurred in the Colleymount Road area on April 27, burning 1.6 hectares.
During the same period in 2016, the Northwest Fire Centre had already seen 19 wildfires. However, the 10-year average for wildfires in the region for this same period is 11.
“So this would be an average start to the season,” explained Olivia Pojar, fire information officer for the Northwest Fire Centre.
Seasonal forecasts from Environment Canada indicate an increased likelihood of above-normal temperatures over the May-June period, particularly for northern B.C.
Pojar said one 20-person unit crew and two three-person initial attack crews will be working out of Burns Lake this season.
As of Friday May 5, the fire danger rating in Burns Lake was “low.”