British Columbia’s wildfire season is now the most destructive on record, with more than 14,000 square kilometres of the province burned, surpassing the previous high of 13,543 square kilometres set in 2018.
Here are some statistics about the current season from the BC Wildfire Service website, as of noon Pacific time, July 19.
Total area burned: 14,279 square kilometres
Fires currently burning: 377, including 21 fires of note
New fires in past 24 hours: 15
Out-of-control fires: 237
Total number of fires this season: 1,210
Causes of all fires: Lightning, 65 per cent; humans (deliberate and accidental) 29 per cent; unknown, six per cent.
Biggest single fire: Donnie Creek fire, northeastern B.C., 5,831 square kilometres.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published July 19, 2023.
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