Ahead of what’s expected to be a busy wildfire season, the B.C. government says it’s committing millions of dollars more for emergency support services.
Minister of Emergency Management and Climate Readiness Kelly Greene says the province has allocated $2.5 million to help British Columbians who are forced to flee their homes in an emergency.
A statement by the province says the funding will be spent across 54 projects for 88 B.C. communities, including Dzawada’enuxw First Nation, the District of Wells, Tla’amin Nation, Dease River First Nation, and Golden.
“This funding helps communities prepare to deliver that support, from recruiting and training volunteers to equipment and supplies for reception centres and group lodging, helping ensure assistance is ready when people need it most,” said Greene.
Experts say this year will be his “litmus test” for whether Canada’s wildfire seasons, already in uncharted territory and fuelled by human-caused climate change, have entered a “new reality.”
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Parts of Canada emerged from winter under abnormally dry or drought conditions, including historic wildfire hot spots in British Columbia’s southern interior, northern Manitoba and eastern Northwest Territories.
Long-range forecasts suggest much of Canada could be hotter than normal over the coming months. And El Niño, the warming phase of a recurring climate pattern tied to shifting waters in the Pacific Ocean, is expected to take hold this summer.
As of Thursday morning, the BC Wildfire Service reported four active wildfires burning across the province.
Greene, Minister of Forests Ravi Parmar, and Minister of Water, Land and Resource Stewardship Randene Neill are expected to provide an update about seasonal emergency preparedness at a media event around 11:45 a.m. Thursday.
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