Canada: Wildfires continue to rage in British Columbia /update 1

Event

Wildfires continue to rage in the western province of British Columbia as of Tuesday, July 11. A state of emergency, initially declared on July 8, remains in place as intense heat, strong winds, and dry conditions continue to hinder firefighting efforts. More than 230 fires were reported as of late July 10 - many believed to be sparked by lightning strikes - with a dozen of them near residential areas. Several villages located in central regions of the province have been evacuated, affecting some 14,000 residents. Dry conditions are expected to persist in the coming days and more lightning storms are forecast.

Context

Wildfires are common in British Columbia, particularly in the summer, with some 2000 fires reported annually on average. However, two weeks of dry weather has made these current fires more difficult to contain than normal.

Advice

Individuals are advised to exercise caution when traveling in areas affected by the wildfires, to adhere to all instructions issued by the local authorities (e.g. evacuation orders), and to keep abreast of the situation.