Province allocates billions from contingency fund to combat looming wildfire and drought crisis

VANCOUVER — Premier David Eby says some of the $10.6 billion in the contingency fund from the budget tabled earlier this week will be used for what is expected to be a terrible fire and drought season.

Eby says the province spent a billion dollars last year fighting fires and he expects more to be spent this fire season.

B.C.’s snowpack is very low in many areas and drought levels, especially in northern B.C., remain high.

Eby says the province is preparing an “army” of firefighters and is also leasing aircraft and expanding infrastructure to allow for firefighters to conduct operations such as aerial missions at night, enhancing B.C.’s capacity to fight wildfires around the clock.