iN NUMBERS: The fire season that wasn’t in the Thompson-Okanagan

We can tell you that it’s been an unusual summer in the BC Interior in terms of moderate temperatures, consistent precipitation and cloud cover but perhaps wildfire numbers are best to show it.

• 925: That’s the number of fires in BC this year.
• 1,689: That’s the 20-year average number of wildfires.
• 2,296: That’s how many fires in 2023, one of the worst years on record in the province.
• 732,794: That’s the number of hectares burned this year, 714,269 of which was in the Prince George Fire Centre.
• 500,333: That’s the 20-year average for hectares burned.
• 60: That’s how many wildfires are burning right now.
• 0: That’s how many ‘wildfires of note’ for BC Wildfire right now.
• 0: That’s also the number of smoke advisories in the Kamloops Fire Centre this year.
• 72: That’s the percentage of fires caused by lightning this year.
• 0: That’s the number of wildfires caused by lightning in the Kamloops Fire Centre this year. All four fires were human caused.
• 0: That’s the number of campfire bans in the Kamloops Fire Centre this year.
• 1: Big sigh of relief this year.