| Comments | British Columbia, May 9 to September 11, 2015. The 2015 wildfire season in British Columbia was the worst on record, in terms of number of fires and hectares burned, to impact the province in 10 years. During the wildfire season that spanned from May to September, over 1,800 fires burned over 300,000 hectares of land. Approximately two thirds of the fires were caused by lighting. The season began early with the discovery of the Little Bobtail Lake fire on May 9. Many fires were within a close proximity of urban areas prompting evacuation orders and alerts across the province. A number of communities were affected by evacuation orders and alerts. Evacuation orders were issued for 141 homes in Joe Rich Kelowna, 70 homes in West Kelowna, 150 homes in Port Hardy and 110 homes in Testalinden, including others. In Puntzi Lake, 90 homes were evacuated and 18 structures were destroyed, while in Rock Creek 330 homes were evacuated and 30 homes as well as 15 other structures were destroyed. Across the province, 1,144 homes (approximately 3,432 individuals) were evacuated due to wildfires. BC Hydro was forced to cut power to certain communities as a precaution, like in West Kelowna where power was cut to 100 customers (approximately 300 individuals). Additional personnel and resources were needed to help battle to above average number of fires burning throughout the province including 310 out-of province firefighters as well as firefighters from Australia, South Africa and the United states. In total, 2,500 firefighters and support workers were working across the province during the peak of the wildfire season. One man was fatally injured while felling a danger tree at the Old Sechelt Mine fire. |