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Cariboo Fire Centre appears to have fewer human-caused fires than last year

2018 saw 23 human-caused wildfires vs. 63 in 2017
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The Shovel Lake fire. (Photo Black Press)

Correction: The printed version of this story states there were fewer fires in the Cariboo than last summer. There were actually more fires total but appear to have fewer human-caused fires.

There was an increase in wildfires this year compared to last year in the Cariboo Fire Centre, according to a wildfire newsletter released by the Cariboo Fire Centre on Aug. 30.

It also appears to reveal a substantial decrease in human-caused fires compared to last summer.

When asked what might have inspired such a drastic drop, fire information officer Jessica Mack said it’s too early to draw any conclusions.

In fact, we may never know the reasons why.

“There is, unfortunately, no way for the BC Wildfire Service to determine specifically why there is an increase or decrease in human-caused starts.”

She said they are hopeful that FireSmart information and people just being more careful could have prevented some fires.

“We do also tend to see a general decrease in human-caused fires in years following an extreme fire season, like 2017, as people are reminded of the repercussions of being careless with fire use.”

RELATED: Humans responsible for more than 400 B.C. wildfires so far this season

Statistics

According to a wildfire newsletter released on Aug. 30 by the Cariboo Fire Centre there were 305 wildfires to date in the Cariboo this season compared to 268 in 2017 and 23 of those fires were human-caused compared to 63 in 2017.

2018 vs. 2017

305 vs. 268 wildfires

23 vs. 63 human-caused fires

255 vs. 202 lightning-caused fires

27 vs. 3 fires with undetermined causes

63,860 vs. 816, 379 hectares burned

Penalties

For people caught trying to have an open fire during a campfire ban, penalties are steep.

If a human-lit fire proves to have caused or contributed to a wildfire, this could even mean having to fork out the money for all firefighting and associated costs.

Mack did not immediately respond when asked whether anybody was caught or charged for having disobeyed a campfire ban this year.

$1,150 ticket

$10,000 administrative penalty

up to $100,000 fine if convicted

1 year potential jail sentence


beth.audet@100milefreepress.net

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