BC’s Wildfires Have Now Burned Two Million Hectares More than the Yearly Average in 2023

This year’s wildfires have officially burned two million hectares more in BC than the yearly average over the past ten years.

With just over 2.4 million hectares burned, this season also dwarfs the previous record of 1.3 million scorched in 2018.

Of the nearly 400 active fires still raging across BC, over half of which are in the Northwest and Prince George Fire Centres.

Evacuation orders remain in place around Lucas Lake southwest of Fort Fraser and around Tatuk Lake south of Vanderhoof.

To the north, orders also cover the areas around Great Beaver Lake and Ocock Lake, east and northeast of Fort St James.

An order also surrounds the Omineca Provincial Park, stretching all the way down to Highway 27.

Another order is in place where the Nadina River meets Francois Lake, and an evacuation alert is covering the Marilla area along Ootsa Lake.

Alerts also remain in place south of Houston and around Witset, and most orders are also prompting neighbouring alert areas.

You can find maps of alerts and orders at this link.