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By Caden Fanshaw

Wildfire Danger

Wildfire danger expected to heat up to ‘extreme’ around Prince George

Jun 25, 2021 | 5:16 PM

PRINCE GEORGE – With hot weather comes the risk of wildfires, and with our ‘heat dome’ related conditions well underway in BC, we are already seeing the effects.

According to Dr. Phil Burton, Professor, Ecosystem Science & Management at UNBC, a stretch of warm weather between five to ten days will dry out the forest floor.

“Fortunately, there doesn’t seem to be any thunder and lightning storms on the horizon. That’s of course the other factor of weather that’s in the equation in terms of ignition,” says Dr. Burton.

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The BC Wildfire Service says they are currently pulling crews back from out of province in anticipation of high fire activity across BC.

“We don’t have any fires of note in the Prince George Fire Centre to be concerned about,” says Spokesperson for BCWS Sharon Nickel. “Most of our weather stations are trending moderately to high levels right now.”

Weather readings in and around Prince George are expected to hit extreme levels over the weekend.

Even with a wet spring, that too comes as a double-edged sword according to Dr. Burton, who says the wet temperatures can encourage vegetation growth which could now become an easy fire-starter.

Temperatures are expected to hit the high 30’s next week in Prince George, which could break the city’s record for the highest temperature ever recorded of 38.9 degrees according to Environment Canada.