VANCOUVER, B.C. – Fire officials in British Columbia say rain, cooler temperatures and fewer lightning storms are helping crews get the upper hand on wildfires.
B.C. Forest Service fire information officer Kim Steinbart says officials are optimistic now that some areas have seen significant precipitation and others have rain in the forecast.
But Steinbart warns not all parts of the province will get rain, and with some of the larger fires it will take 20 to 40 millimetres of rain before any impact is felt.
The Terrace Mountain fire, north of Kelowna, has kept 2,150 people out of their homes since the beginning of the month and another 2,500 remain on evacuation alert.
The fire is estimated to be about 90 square kilometres and crews have the blaze about 40 per cent contained.
Steinbart says nearly 2,400 fires have been recorded in B.C. since April 1, spanning more than 1,100 square kilometres.
