This time last year, Metro Vancouver was under an air quality advisory as wildfire smoke drifted into the region.
This year, not only are there no smokey conditions at the moment, the province has actually seen nearly 200 fewer wildfire starts so far compared to 2023’s record-breaking season, says Emilie Peacock with the BC Wildfire Service.
Peacock says between April 1 and June 8, the province had 201 wildfire starts compared to 393 starts over the same period last year.
However, she is urging caution as we transition into the hot summer months, and notes we are seeing a lot more fire behaviour historically.
“[In] spring fire season, we see a lot of human-caused starts, and then as we transition into summer months, a lot of lightning and natural fires start to happen,” Peacock said.
The service says while campfires are allowed across B.C., it stresses the importance of practising fire safety, like having a shovel and eight litres of water on hand when it’s time to put it out.