A wildfire burning near Penticton has resulted in thousands of people facing evacuation orders and alerts, as the fire has come close to some populated areas.
Earlier this month, another wildfire, this one near Princeton, resulted in an evacuation alert for 43 nearby properties.
It may be a relatively quiet year on a the wildlife front for British Columbians, but even in the quietest, we are not immune.
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In 2017 and 2018 – the worst fire seasons on record in British Columbia – many residents took the time to prepare in case the fires came too close to their homes.
And in previous years, wildfires resulted in evacuation alerts and orders affecting homes throughout the region.
Those who were in the area during the summer of 2003 will remember the devastation of the wildfires that year, some of them coming close to major centres.
Wildfires can and will occur in the dry areas of the British Columbia Interior, and at times, these fires come close to populated areas.
But Vancouver Island is hardly safe. Almost every community in the B.C. has been affected at one time or another.
While emergency centres are quickly set up when a fire or another disaster occurs, it is important for residents to be prepared. Sometimes a fire can present a threat with little advance notice.
This is why those living in interface areas are urged to have a grab-and-go bag packed.
And while outlying areas have been affected in the past, it also makes sense for others living in the southern interior of B.C. to take similar measures.
When a disaster happens, preparation time is a precious, and often scant factor. Think ahead.
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