Rain, Cooler Temperatures, and High Humidity Levels Offer Short-Term Relief to B.C. Wildfire Firefighters

The Canadian Broadcasting Company (CBC) is reporting today (8-18-21) that a significant increase in fire activity over the weekend caused by gusting winds created challenging conditions for firefighters. However, rain, cooler temperatures, and relatively high humidity levels in parts of B.C.’s Interior has diminished fire behavior in the short term, but the amount of rain received in many areas wasn’t enough to have any lasting effect on the fires, as deep layers in the ground are still dry.

To date, thousands of properties in B.C. remain under evacuation order, despite nearly 1,000 being taken off evacuation order and almost 500 taken off evacuation alert on Tuesday night. The B.C. government has extended the provincial state of emergency until the end of August to better assist wildfire evacuees.

Rain and cooler temperatures are in the forecast in coming days, which could be helpful for wildfire suppression efforts as long as the wind remains calm.

Information officer Forrest Tower with the B.C. Wildfire Service said it’s unlikely the White Rock Lake fire, which has destroyed dozens of homes and is currently estimated to be about 782 square kilometers in size, will be completely extinguished until the fall or winter, when natural processes can put it out.