New wildfire terms for 2017

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1 New wildfire terms for 2017 INSIDE THIS ISSUE Stages of Control 1 Northwest Update 2 Crew Activities 3 Weather Maps 4 Weather Indices 5 FireSmart 6 Restrictions and Contacts 6 NWFC NUMBERS Since April 1, 2017 Total fires to date: 22 Human-caused: 18 Lightning-caused: at this time Total fires to date: 32 Human-caused: 28 Lightning-caused: 4 10 year average ( 07-16) Total fires to date: 30 Human-caused: 24 Lightning-caused: 6 Provincial Stats Total fires to date: 208 Human-caused: 160 Lightning-caused: 48 Wildfire located south of the Nadina river on Friday, June 23 For 2017, the BC Wildfire Service (BCWS) is adopting wildfire terminology that matches that of the Canadian Interagency Forest Fire Centre in order to improve communications across political boundaries and assist in fire management operations. In 2017, the stages of control for a Your Wildfire News wildfire will be as follows: Out of Control describes a wildfire that is not responding to suppression action. Previously this stage of control was known as Initial Attack and/or Expanded Attack. Being Held indicates that the fire is not likely to spread beyond existing or predetermined boundaries under the current and forecasted conditions. Previously termed Mop Up or Expanded Attack. Under Control (previously termed Contained or In Patrol ) refers to a fire that has received sufficient suppression action to ensure no further spread of the fire. Out remains the same and indicates that the fire has been extinguished. The intent of this newsletter is to provide useful and relevant information for the area of operation covered by the Northwest Fire Centre (NWFC) including an update on fire activity, weather indices, and background information on various topics. For more information about this newsletter or if your address has been added to the distribution list by mistake, please contact Olivia Pojar, Fire Information Officer at FORFNOP.INFONW@gov.bc.ca. For up-to-date information on current wildfire activity, please visit gov.bc.ca/wildfiresituation.

2 P A G E 2 Northwest Update It has been an average start to the 2017 fire season in the Northwest Fire Centre. For the past ten years, the average number of wildfires by June 26th is 30 and the average total area burnt is 362 hectares. So far in 2017, there have been 22 wildfires, burning approximately 131 combined hectares. An early season wildfire at Anderson Flats Provincial Park in the Bulkley Zone in April burned 12 hectares Wildfire burning south of the Nadina River near Houston. This fire began June 23rd and its status is currently Under Control. It grew to 58 hectares before being contained by fire crews and supporting heavy equipment and tankers and green herbaceous matter) and precipitation increases in May and June, wildfires are less likely to ignite. BC Wildfire Service crews have also been busy assisting Emergency Management BC with its flood relief efforts in communities across BC. When lightning ignites multiple wildfires it is important for the public to help prevent humancaused wildfires so that fire fighters are able to focus on naturally occurring incidents. Nine early season wildfires occurred in April, as a result of human activity, and burned a combined total of 68 hectares. Wildfires can easily start when fuels such as dead grass and bare deciduous trees predominate. When fuels green up (i.e., grow leaves What is a hectare? The BC Wildfire Service keeps track of how big a fire is by recording the number of hectares that have been consumed. 1 hectare (ha) is a metric unit that equals 100m x 100m. 1 hectare equals 2.47 acres. 1 hectare is about the size of an average public sports field. BCWS crews assist with flood control measures in Penticton Information from the public is crucial to ensuring wildfires are responded to as soon as possible: Report Wildfires: or *5555 on a cell

3 P A G E 3 Crews in the Community Nadina Zone crews perform prep work for a future prescribed burn in Red Hills Provincial Park, Training Smokey Bear reminds Houston Elementary about FireSmart and campfire safety Crews participate in aviation training in Telkwa (L &R), chainsaw training, and fuel management work at the Mount Horetzky prescribed burn north of Babine Lake.

4 P A G E 4 Fire Danger Rating Precipitation Temperature Relative Humidity These maps are current for Monday, June 26, 2017 at 1200 PST. For the most recent weather maps, please visit gov.bc.ca/wildfireweather. These maps are for informational purposes only and should not be used to make operational decisions.

5 P A G E 5 Northwest Fire Centre Indices Valid as of 12:00 Monday, June 26, 2017 Different types of codes are used to determine the dryness of forest fuel classes on a given day. These codes are calculated from weather data gathered by weather stations situated throughout the province. These codes are part of the Canadian Forest Fire Danger Rating System, which provides a numeric, uniform method of rating fire danger. Fine Fuel Moisture Code (FFMC): This code rates the moisture content of cured fine fuels and forest floor litter. It is an indicator of how easily fine fuels will ignite and burn. Drought Code (DC): This is a numerical rating of the average moisture content of compact, deep organic layers. It is a useful code for indicating the effects of seasonal drought on forest fuels, and the amount of smouldering that could occur in large logs and deep duff layers. Duff Moisture Code (DMC): A code that rates the average moisture content of loosely compacted organic layers found at a moderate depth. It indicates fuel consumption in medium-sized woody material and in moderate duff layers. The Danger Class Report provides both forecasted and estimated Fire Danger Rating values for specific weather stations. Danger Class and Fire Danger Rating are equivalent, where 1 and 2 Danger Class equal low FDR, 3 equals moderate, 4 is high, and 5 equals extreme.

6 P A G E 6 Northwest Fire Centre Bans and Prohibitions There are currently no prohibitions in the Northwest Fire Centre. Up-to-date prohibition information can be found at gov.bc.ca/wildfirebans Want more information? Visit our website at gov.bc.ca/wildfiresituation Important Numbers Report a wildfire *5555 on a cell or Wildfire Information Line FOREST Burn Registration Line Northwest Fire Information Officer