Forest fire smoke, Alexis Creek, 2010
For my video; youtu.be/nbGz1ZDeL-g,
Alexis Creek, British Columbia, Canada
CTV.ca News Staff
Published Wednesday, August 4, 2010 9:58AM EDT
Crews in British Columbia battling hundreds of wildfires have already used up the $52 million budget to fight forest fires for the fiscal year, officials announced.
The province set aside the money to fight wildfires for the 2010-2011 fiscal year, which began in April. But a spokesperson with B.C.'s Wildfire Management Branch said $52.8 million has been spent since April 1. While crews are currently battling more than 400 active wildfires across the province, figures released Tuesday show there have been more than 1,200 wildfires in B.C. since April 1, burning more than 84,000 hectares of land.
Gwen Earner said the province spent $6 million on Tuesday alone and said "we can anticipate continued expenditures" as hot, dry conditions and lightning storms continue.
One of the province's most hard-hit areas is the Cariboo region, where 13 new fires began between Monday and Tuesday mornings, most of which were caused by lightning. The largest fires in the area include Meldrum Creek, where several fires cover about 7,500 hectares, Alexis Creek, the largest of which covers 7,300 hectares and Dog Creek, which covers 6,200 hectares.
Forest fire smoke, Alexis Creek, 2010
For my video; youtu.be/nbGz1ZDeL-g,
Alexis Creek, British Columbia, Canada
CTV.ca News Staff
Published Wednesday, August 4, 2010 9:58AM EDT
Crews in British Columbia battling hundreds of wildfires have already used up the $52 million budget to fight forest fires for the fiscal year, officials announced.
The province set aside the money to fight wildfires for the 2010-2011 fiscal year, which began in April. But a spokesperson with B.C.'s Wildfire Management Branch said $52.8 million has been spent since April 1. While crews are currently battling more than 400 active wildfires across the province, figures released Tuesday show there have been more than 1,200 wildfires in B.C. since April 1, burning more than 84,000 hectares of land.
Gwen Earner said the province spent $6 million on Tuesday alone and said "we can anticipate continued expenditures" as hot, dry conditions and lightning storms continue.
One of the province's most hard-hit areas is the Cariboo region, where 13 new fires began between Monday and Tuesday mornings, most of which were caused by lightning. The largest fires in the area include Meldrum Creek, where several fires cover about 7,500 hectares, Alexis Creek, the largest of which covers 7,300 hectares and Dog Creek, which covers 6,200 hectares.