B.C. has extended its state of emergency rule

B.C. Emergency Management Minister Bowinn Ma says the province will extend its state of emergency as wildfires continue to rage. Earlier this week, the Northwest Territories did the same. Wind gusts of up to 60 km/h, heat and drought are expected to increase fire activity.

Ma announced a two-week extension of the state of emergency on Thursday when she gave an update on the drought and wildfires in British Columbia. The decision was made despite general improvement in the southern parts of the province, where rains have helped ease wildfire activity slightly. The province's state of emergency was initially declared Aug. 18. It gives B.C. services expanded powers to respond to natural disasters, including wildfires.

While the situation is slowly getting better in the south, firefighters in northeastern B.C. are expecting strong winds that could intensify wildfires near the municipalities of Fort Nelson, Fort St. John, Chetwynd and Dawson Creek. No rain is expected in the north.

Environment Canada has issued a special weather advisory for northeastern B.C. for gusty winds Thursday into Saturday. It says west and southwest winds of 40 km/h and gusts up to 60 km/h from southeast Yukon will move into northeast B.C. by Friday morning. In addition to fanning already burning wildfires, the winds could also affect air quality by carrying smoke from the fires far and wide, as well as creating hazards such as breaking trees.

The British Columbia Wildfire Service (BCWS) has also issued a statement asking locals to be alert and cautious as high winds develop. The BCWS has also shifted resources north to prepare to fight back against wildfires that are likely to become more active.

So far, more than 3,500 people are involved in wildfire response and recovery efforts across B.C., including BCWS staff, firefighters and other personnel from Mexico, South Africa, Australia, Ontario and the Canadian Armed Forces.

It is reported that there are currently 422 wildfires burning throughout British Columbia, which is about 50 more than a week ago. The cause of the increase in the number of fires has been attributed to lightnings. About 200 wildfires remain uncontrolled, and 12 require special attention because they pose a threat to nearby communities.

It also said Thursday that 4,200 people had to be evacuated because of the wildfires and another 65,000 should be ready to evacuate at a moment's notice. Campfires are also banned in the northwestern part of the province.

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In southern British Columbia, meanwhile, heavy rains were expected at the same time to help firefighters fight large wildfires.

The Columbia Shuswap Regional District said cooler weather has brought winds that could increase activity on the Bush Creek East fire near the village of Chase, with rain "creating conditions for firefighters to increase their attack" on the fire, which is more than 430 square kilometers in size.

Precipitation is forecast for Kelowna, Lytton and Salmon Arm, near where fires that caused evacuations are also burning. Rainfall in the Thompson-Nicola and Fraser Valley Regional Districts, as well as the Bear Creek Road area in West Kelowna, has downgraded the status of evacuation orders. Local residents must now be prepared to evacuate, but mandatory evacuation orders are not in effect. In the Boucherie Industrial Area in the Central Okanagan and parts of the Westbank First Nation, evacuation warnings have been lifted.