Moving forward from B.C.'s historically destructive 2023 wildfire season

The eerie glow of a massive wildfire encroaching on West Kelowna one August evening is a picture rooted deep in the memory of many British Columbians.

The eerie glow of a massive wildfire encroaching on West Kelowna one August evening is a picture rooted deep in the memory of many British Columbians.

The city is among several communities that faced devastating wildfire destruction in 2023.

Hot and dry conditions over the spring and summer left much of the province primed for disaster.

Between Aug. 15 and 18, more than 40 temperature records were set across B.C., according to the province.

The heat wave combined with gusting winds, leading to extreme fire behavior at the McDougall Creek, Lower East Adams Lake and Crater Creek wildfires – plus nearly a dozen others.

An estimated 208 evacuation orders were given, affecting about 24,000 properties and roughly 48,000 people.

Despite the best efforts of firefighters, hundreds of those evacuees would ultimately find themselves without a home to return to.