$387M spent fighting B.C. wildfires so far this year: officials
CTV
B.C. has spent $387 million fighting wildfires so far this season, according to officials, who provided an update on the situation Tuesday.
B.C. has spent $387 million fighting wildfires so far this season, according to officials, who provided an update on the situation Tuesday.
The total is 17 per cent less than what had been spent this time last year, when the province had the most destructive wildfire season on record. When that season ended, spending hovered around a billion dollars, Bruce Ralston, minister of forests said.
"We're certainly not proceeding at that pace. But what I would say to people is that in the financial arrangements that are made for BC Wildfire Service and fighting there's a statutory authority to spend what's required, so it's not a question of bumping up against a limit," he said.
"Fortunately, we haven't had to spend as much or at the same rate we're at the this year, but, but the authorization is there to spend whatever is required to keep communities and people and businesses safe."
The update came amid a change in conditions to cooler weather and the number of people forced from their homes dropped to 55.
But Emergency Management Minister Bowinn Ma stressed that the province is still in the midst of core wildfire season and a persistent drought.
"I would love to say that this is a sign that we're winding down the wildfire season, but it is not," she said. "Wildfires remain extremely active throughout the province."
