B.C. lifts state of emergency, though wildfires still burning

More than 200 wildfires are burning across the province, including the Bald Range wildfire that forced the evacuation of Summerland. But it is no longer considered a wildfire of note. Photo by B.C.Wildfire Service

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The state of emergency has been lifted. The threat has not.

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While 211 wildfires remain burning across the province — including 100 classified as out of control — the state of emergency was lifted by the province on Thursday.

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The state of provincial emergency, initially declared on Aug. 8 as the Bald Range wildfire threatened communities along Okanagan Lake, was lifted on “advice from emergency management officials,” according to a government release.

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The Bald Range blaze is no longer considered a “wildfire of note” by the B.C. Wildfire Service. It’s classified as “being held” and has burned an estimated 250 square kilometres.

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“This does not impact the resources assigned to the fire or operational decisions. We continue to be well resourced with groundcrews, aviation resources, heavy equipment and an incident management team,” the wildfire service said in a news release, as 378 firefighters, 57 pieces of heavy equipment and 10 helicopters continue to fight the fire.

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Firefighters work to mop up the Bald Range wildfire. Photo by BCWFS /PNG

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The response includes 100 Mexican wildland firefighters who returned to the front lines after taking their rest days, alongside wildfire service groundcrews, contract crews and out-of-province crews from Alberta and Quebec.

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The state of emergency had granted authorities emergency powers and other tools that could be made available quickly if needed, like in the case of the Bald Range fire. Its cancellation won’t change any current evacuation orders or alerts, or any local emergencies declared by local governments or First Nations.

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The wildfire risk in the province remains elevated in many parts of B.C. due to ongoing warm and dry conditions, and the provincial government is prepared to declare a new state of emergency if it is deemed necessary.

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