Victoria/Fraser Valley . Even with the rain, cooler temperatures and crews getting a handle on the Mt Hicks fire off Highway 7 near Seabird Island, we are not out of the woods yet.
British Columbia’s wildfire-driven provincial state of emergency has been formally extended, through the end of the day on September 12.
The Province declared a state of emergency on August 15. The state of emergency will be in effect for an additional 14 days, and may be extended or rescinded as necessary.
The state of emergency declaration will continue to apply to the entire province. This ensures that all needed resources can be delivered in a co-ordinated response to the wildfire situation and continue to ensure public safety, which remains the provincial government’s top priority.
As of Wednesday morning, 534 wildfires are burning in B.C., with 34 evacuation orders affecting approximately 3,200 people, plus 53 evacuation alerts impacting approximately 21,800 people.
The Province’s decision to extend the provincial state of emergency will support the significant number of people who remain under evacuation orders and alerts.
The state of emergency gives agencies, such as Emergency Management BC, the fire commissioner, the Ministry of Forests, Lands, Natural Resource Operations and Rural Development, and the RCMP, the authority to take every action necessary to fight the wildfires and protect residents and their communities.
