B.C. Wildfire on watch for ‘overwintering’ fires in Interior

KAMLOOPS — B.C. Wildfire Service is asking people to keep an eye out for "overwintering" fires with the arrival spring and the accompanying rising temperatures.

B.C. Wildfire says in a media release overwintering fires happen when a wildfire that burned deep underground last summer continues to smoulder throughout the winter. Some of the residual hot spots from 2018 could fire up with the arrival of warm temperatures.

"Most overwintering fires will occur well within the original fire's perimeter," B.C. Wildfire says in the release. "Many areas near communities where wildfires burned last year are being actively patrolled by firefighters and scanned using thermal imaging technology."

B.C. Wildfire's standard practice is to watch over previous wildfire sites, and make sure that any flare-ups from overwintering fires are located and doused.

Even so they encourage members of the public to report any wildfire or smoke they see, even if it is within the perimeter of a previous fire.

To report a wildfire, unattended campfire or open burning violation, call 1-800-663-5555 toll-free or *5555 on a cellphone.

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