Campfire, off-road bans limited new long-weekend wildfires in B.C.: officials
http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/campfire-off-road-bans-helping-limit-new-wild-fire-starts-says-bc-wildfire-service-1.4237529
Campfire, off-road bans limited new long-weekend wildfires in B.C.: officials
Only 6 fires flared on Saturday, fire information officer says bans played role in lower number
By Gemma Karstens-Smith, The Canadian Press Posted: Aug 06, 2017 4:55 PM PT| Last Updated: Aug 06, 2017 4:55 PM PT
Restrictions meant to help stave off new wildfires in tinder-dry British Columbia appear to be working as people enjoy the long weekend, officials say. Kevin Skrepnek with the BC Wildfire Service said there were 127 fires burning across B.C. Sunday morning, but only six of those were sparked the day before. With hot, dry conditions persisting throughout the province, the low number speaks to how people have reacted to prohibitions on off-road vehicles and campfires, he said.
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Last week, the province banned the use of off-road vehicles in much of southern B.C., saying the prohibition was necessary to stop sparks or hot tail pipes from igniting extremely dry fuel in the forests and grasslands. Campfire bans have also been in effect throughout much of the province for several weeks.
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Nearly 892 wildfires in B.C. have charred an estimated 5,910 square kilometres an area about the size of Prince Edward Island since April 1. The province has spent $230 million on fire suppression this year.
Chris Duffy with Emergency Management BC said Sunday that almost 7,000 people remain displaced from their homes by the flames, while another 26,000 have been warned that they may need to leave at a moment's notice.
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