Change in weather brings mixed blessings for B.C. wildfire fighters

A cold front is set to hit most of B.C. on Tuesday evening, bringing a short-lived change in weather.

1130 NewsRadio meteorologist Carl Lam says to expect periods of rain on Wednesday and Thursday this week in the Lower Mainland.

The cold front will see temperatures drop on those two days to a high of 20°C and a low of 15°C and 13°C, compared to a high of 23°C and a low of 16°C  on Tuesday.

With the change in the weather, the BC Wildfire Service warns that the stronger winds coming with the change could cause “wildfire behaviour to become more extreme.”

According to the BC Wildfire Service, thundershowers and lightning in the eastern part of the province have the potential for dry lightning into Wednesday.

On the other hand, pockets of rainclouds could help to reduce the threat of wildfire and support firefighters’ efforts in battling burning blazes.

As of Tuesday afternoon, there are currently 74 wildfires in the province, of which 19 are considered out of control.

Most of those fires are located in the north-eastern corner of B.C., while two are reported in the eastern part of the province, just west of Jasper National Park.

The Izman Creek wildfire near Lytton remains out of control and is currently 242 hectares in size.

That blaze first sparked when an “equipment failure of an RCMP trailer” caused a fire in a grass-filled ditch.

The Thompson-Nicola Regional District issued an evacuation order on July 1 for around 40 properties due to the imminent threat of the wildfire.

Thirty wildfires are classified as “under control, with multiple ones having prompted evacuation orders, such as the fires close to Squamish, Kamloops, and Kelowna.

“Temperatures will remain seasonal for the majority of the province,” said the BC Wildfire Service.

If you see a wildfire or any signs of one, you’re asked to please report it immediately. You can do so by calling 1-800-663-5555, dialing *5555 on a mobile device, or by using the BC Wildfire Service App.