The BC Government says 1,688 wildfires burned around 1.08 million hectares in the province this year.
More than 70 per cent of those fires were caused by lightning, while less than 30 per cent were attributed to human activity, and a small percentage remains un determined.
“I want to thank the hardworking members of the BC Wildfire Service who put their lives on the line every day to protect British Columbians and their communities from the devastating impact of wildfires,” said Ravi Parmar, Minister of Forests.
“Their dedication and bravery are nothing short of extraordinary, especially as wildfire seasons grow longer and more intense, putting greater pressure on people, ecosystems and communities.”
Additionally, 51 evacuation orders affecting more than 4,100 properties were issued, while 112 evacuation alerts affected more than 11,600 properties.
Throughout this year, upgrades were made to firefighting equipment and fire-camp infrastructure.
Additionally, the BC Wildfire Service purchased and used more on-the-ground firefighting equipment, such as pumps, fire-camp equipment and safety gear, as well as medical and hygiene equipment.
The province also announced a first-of-its-kind in North America wildfire training education centre this year, which will be located at Thompson Rivers University in Kamloops.
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