VANCOUVER – Heavy rains over the weekend have led to a decrease in wildfire activity in parts of British Columbia’s south, but fire officials warn that strong winds are causing some trees to pose a danger to emergency crews.

In its latest update, the BC Wildfire Service reports that the number of active fires in the province has fallen to around 311. This continues a downward trend after there were around 240 fires over the weekend.

The forest fire service said that although much of southern British Columbia experienced rain, with some areas seeing heavy rainfall, it was accompanied by wind gusts of up to 102 kilometres per hour.

The winds “knocked down trees along firebreaks to the south” and forced a fire camp in Invermere, BC, to relocate. However, the service says no one was injured.

The number of out-of-control wildfires in the province has dropped to about 87. Twenty-eight percent of active fires in British Columbia are now under control and 44 percent are considered “under control.”

The Corya Creek wildfire, about 170 kilometres northeast of Terrace, BC, remains the only significant fire in the province, meaning the fire is either highly visible or poses a potential threat to public safety.

According to the Wildfire Service, more than 10,000 square kilometers of land have burned in British Columbia during this year’s fire season, which began on April 1.

Previously, a record wildfire season broke out in 2023, during which more than 28,000 square kilometers of land burned, leading to the evacuation of communities in regions such as the Okanagan and Shuswap.

Environment Canada is forecasting possible rainfall across the province early this week, but as Labor Day weekend approaches, the weather will return to warmer and drier conditions across most parts of British Columbia.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published August 26, 2024.

The Canadian Press