A wildfire expert says rapid detection and initial action to tackle fire starts is important as climate change spurs the hot, dry conditions which result in more intense fires.
Flannigan said extreme fire weather — hot, dry, windy days with lots of lightning — is the “key driver” of the increase in wildfires. While the number of human-caused fires are decreasing, last year, more than 70 per cent of B.C.'s wildfires were caused by lightning.
Flannigan said education, fire bans and forest closures are effective at reducing human-caused fires, which allows for resources to be more readily deployed to lightning-caused fires. He said rapid detection of fires and initial action is important, especially on hot, dry, windy days. Flannigan pointed to the BC Wildfire Service app, which allows users to upload a picture of any suspected fire starts giving crews the visual information they need to best respond.“We are moving in that direction,” Flannigan said, adding he sees room for optimism in the more cohesive and coordinated approach to wildfire after last year’s fire season.