Wildfire season off to early start south of the border in Washington State

It’s not only the Interior of British Columbia experiencing a dry and busy start to this year’s wildfire season.

Wildfires have also been breaking out south of the 49th parallel, including the Snowshoe wildfire that burned eight hectares just across the B.C.-Washington border east of Oroville yesterday. The wildfire agency responded to 91 fires in a single week.

The fire broke out around 2 p.m. yesterday, April 19, and Washington State Department of Natural Resources spokesperson Janet Pearce says fire crews are mopping up today.

READ MORE: Wildfire near Merritt still out of control

“Yesterday, with a few winds, it was running and torching, which is never good, but we got some air resources on it and were able to knock it back,” Pearce says.

She says Washington's fire season has taken off early again, prompting people to ask if this is normal.

Pearce says northern Washington may be introducing burn restrictions and a possible campfire ban this afternoon.

“The good news is we’re supposed to be seeing a change in weather pattern, which is good and bad. We’ll miss the sun, but we’ll get more rain, which can possibly change the outlook and slow the season down a bit,” Pearce says.

On this side of the border, the Petit Creek wildfire burning near Merritt is now estimated at 100 ha and is still considered out of control. Several residents are on evacuation alert. The fire was first discovered on Sunday, April 18.

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