The Squamish Valley fire is still under investigation. Photo: Squamish RCMP
BC Wildfire Service is predicting normal fire conditions for the province in June.
Weather models suggest that BC could continue to expect normal to cooler or wet weather patterns in June, the BC Wildfire Service said.
“As a result, fire behaviour indicators and conditions remain moderate at this point in the wildfire season and are expected to remain so into the short term,” the service said in its seasonal outlook which was released on June 5.
BC Wildfire Service issues forecasts after assessment by meteorologists and fire behaviour specialists who consider a range of fire behaviour indicators and weather data.
The forecasting also takes into considerations soil moisture, fine fuel drynes, and vegetation growth, which influence how much fuel is available to burn in the event of a wildfire.
Although fire conditions remain normal for June, BC may continue to experience wildfires in valley bottoms and in lighter fuels, such as grasses, particularly during windy conditions and in areas with low humidity, after several days of drying.
Fires will begin to occur at higher elevations with the snow melts.
However, the fire service expects that the current suppression tactics will be successful in holding most wildfires to small sizes in June.
Much of the fire starts at this time of year are human-caused and therefore preventable, wildfire service notes. BC Wildfire Service believes the fire in Squamish Valley was human-caused, it is still investigating who started the fire.
BC has responded to 115 human-caused wildfires since April 1, 2020.
