BC Wildfire Service prepares for busy season despite no active “zombie” fires in the area

After last year’s intense fire season, people are fearful about what this season will bring, especially since there are some fires which have been burning underground all winter.

Holdover fires, also knows as “zombie fires” arise when a fire from the prior fall continues to burn over the winter, and re-emerges the following spring.

While a number of these fires are already making smoke in the, roughly 336000 square kilometre Prince George Fire District, Val Lucas of the BC Wildfire Service (BCWS) reports that none of them are currently within a 100km radius of the Prince George municipality. Although we can breathe easy for now, a Category 2 & 3 Fire Ban comes into effect March 28th, signifying the severity of the current drought conditions.

CFUR News explores the factors which could affect this year’s fire season.

Also posted on frequencynews.ca produced with the financial assistance of the CRFC (Community Radio Fund of Canada) through The Local Journalism Initiative which supports the creation of original civic journalism that is relevant to the diverse needs of underserved communities across Canada, broadening availability and consumption of local and regional news on matters of civic governance. Read more about The Local Journalism Initiative here.