Much to the chagrin of Terrace residents, April showers did not bring May flowers — just more rain. However, that may be helpful heading into wildfire season.
The wildfire risk in Terrace is currently listed as moderate according to the BC Wildfire Service's fire danger map, meaning forest fuels are drying and becoming more flammable, which can increase the likelihood of fires starting.
With a below-average snowpack heading into the season reported by the Weather Network, a May that saw 152.9 per cent of its normal precipitation helps temporarily improve the wildfire outlook.
May in Terrace saw 83.4 mm of precipitation and an average temperature of 9.7 degrees celsius, which was -1.5 degrees colder than normal. According to Environment and Climate Change Canada, a normal May in the city sees 54.6 mm of rain.
Much of the northwest region, including Terrace, was listed as dry heading into May, according to the Weather Network's drought monitor.
Category 3 fires are currently banned in northwest B.C. until Sept. 29, or until a notice ending the ban is issued.
The BC Wildfire Service defines Category 3 fires as fires that burn "material concurrently in three or more piles, each not exceeding 2 metres in height and 3 metres in width, material in one or more piles each exceeding 2 metres in height or 3 metres in width, one or more windrows each not exceeding 200 metres in length or 15 metres in width, or stubble or grass over an area exceeding 0.2 hectares."
The ban also includes air curtain burners and carbonizers
The BC Wildfire Service warned of serious consequences for anyone caught violating the ban.
"Anyone found in contravention of an open burning prohibition may be issued a ticket for $1,150, required to pay an administrative penalty of up to $10,000 or, if convicted in court, fined up to $100,000 and/or sentenced to one year in jail," the ban notice says. "If the contravention causes or contributes to a wildfire, the person responsible may be ordered to pay all firefighting and associated costs, as well as the value of resources damaged or destroyed by the wildfire."
With files from Jake Wray
