Thetis Still in EXTREME Hazard Fire Rating

BC Wildfire has been receiving a lot of flack about their decision to lift the campfire ban in the Coastal Region this week, and in our area, it is well deserved.  We continue to remain in EXTREME Hazard for activities near and in forested areas and continue with the High Hazard Activities ban.   

I have just attended the Environment &Climate Change Canada (ECCC) video seminar on the present and forecasted weather patterns for the coming months, and the southern tip of Vancouver Island and more notably the Gulf Islands remain in this very dry pattern, and we are “susceptible to late season wildfire” as the autumn wind patterns increase.  This is not great news for us as we are expecting only very limited precipitation Friday/Saturday and the amounts might not be enough to move the needle down to HIGH yet.

For the extended forecast, we are going to be in a La Niña pattern again…the third time in a row and only the third Triple Dip La Niña on record.  This next month should be drier and warmer than average on the coast and then colder and wetter than average for November and December.  We are still at Drought Level 3 at this time.

If we get our big wind events in October this year, expect more power outages than the norm due to stress on the deciduous and coniferous root systems from the drought and the state of the canopy leaf cover.

Fire Chief J. Caldbeck 

TIVFD