PGFC reflects back on record-breaking wildfire season in 2023

DAWSON CREEK, B.C. — Prince George Fire Centre (PGFC) members say the area experienced 673 wildfires and 2,276,962 hectares of burned land in 2023, according to a presentation to the Peace River Regional District board on April 4th.

PGFC Manager Shane Greenlees reported that 2023 was the most destructive year in B.C.’s recorded history, with 80 per cent of the hectares burned in the province being within the centre’s jurisdiction.

The record was last broken in 2018 when 158,358 hectares were burned. 

“The amount is ten times the 20-year average annual area burned and is what would historically be expected over a decade,” said Greenlees.

The season was also emotionally challenging for the centre, as six members of the wildland firefighting community lost their lives — Devyn Gale, Zak Muise, Kenneth Patrick, Jaxon Billyboy, Blain Sonnenberg, and Damian Dyson. Greenlees said this was the first time the centre had lost firefighters.

The PGFC Manager says the 2023 wildfire season started earlier in April and lasted into late November while seeing the largest number of wildfire activity in July. 

The PGFC says the causes are mainly due to high drought conditions and the hot, dry, and windy season between May and October. Most of the wildfire causes remain undetermined or are caused by human activity.

According to Greenless, “almost anything that is not lightning would be human-caused fire,” including car accidents, tree branches falling on power lines, and flammable material being left unattended. Campfires and arson cases are said to be low. 

Between April and October, 181,400 lightning strokes were reported, with 115,659 in July alone. However, the number of strikes did not surpass records from previous years.

During the PGFC presentation, detailed graphs showed drought condition levels throughout the province in previous years. In 2023, areas like Dawson Creek, Fort Nelson, and Prince George saw well over 100 days with no recorded precipitation between April and October.

The centre statistics show 61 evacuation orders, 91 evacuation alerts, and 18 area restrictions were issued throughout last year. 

After the presentation, the board of directors raised various topics, such as overwinter fires, whether the centre was working with private businesses to purchase good-quality firefighter equipment, and wildfire clean-up after an initial outbreak. 

Pouce Coupe Director Danielle Veach asked if the centre was working on any plans to perform wildfire cleanup.

Greenlees says they work closely with the forest district offices, which take the lead in salvaging the forests and offer support where they can.

“We offer support where we can as far as field staff and technical expertise and knowledge of the fires,” said Greenlees. 

Wildfire Officer Darren Van Horn said last winter they were able to assess critical areas where erosion is expected in the spring. 

In a separate question, Chetwynd Mayor Allen Courtorieille raised concerns about the city’s initial wildfire attack team being removed from the city by Minister of Forests Bruce Ralston. 

Courtorieille says a letter was sent to Ralston, and in the minister’s response, he said it will take the initial attack team an additional 20 to 30 minutes to get to Chetwynd in case of a wildfire.

“You’re not going to need an initial attack team after 20 to 30 minutes, you’re going to need suppression,” said Courtorieille.

Courtorieille accused Ralston of not listening or taking seriously his concerns, 

“We are all British Columbians, and we deserve the same respect, same service, same safety as anyone else.” 

“We deserve a better response from the minister,” said Courtorieille.

The board asked the PGFC representatives how to keep a crew in Chetwynd and if there are any programs to train new firefighters in the Prince George area. 

According to Officer Horn, Northern Fireworks, a business in Fort Nelson, is conducting a program to train new firefighters at West Moberly.   

The full presentation can be viewed below: