Published: Nov. 3, 2017

Woman stooped next to fire scarred pine treeBritishÌýColumbia:Ìý2017ÌýWildfire Index*Ìý

Total number of fires: 1217Ìý
Ignitions by lightning on July 7: 138Ìý
Days in a provincial state of emergency: 69Ìý
Number of temperature records 'shattered' this summer: 85Ìý
Percent of province in moderate to extreme fire danger on August 10 and 11: >99Ìý
Size in hectares of the Plateau Wildfire, BC's largest "blaze· on record: 521,024Ìý
Record area burned in hectares, despite modern technology and suppression efforts: 1,163,210Ìý
Tonnes of greenhouse gas emissions from wildfire, 3x the provincial annual average: 190,000,000Ìý
Air Quality Health Index, on a scale of 1 to 10, for Kamloops on August 3: 49Ìý

Estimated number of evacuees fleeing wildfire: 46,500Ìý
Minimum number of buildings lost: 300Ìý
Fine in dollars for not complying with a province-wide campfire ban: 1,150Ìý
Maximum fine for starting a wildfire during a ban: $1 million and 1 year in prisonÌý
Ten days into the ban, number of campfires reported to the Coast Fire Center: 50Ìý
Number of provincial parks closed for safety reasons over September long weekend: 40Ìý

Estimated cost in dollars of fire suppression and emergency relief for evacuees: -700,000,000Ìý
Approximate area burned of the 6,315 ha Gavin Lake block of the Alex Fraser Research Forest: 1,200 Number of hours since July 7 that research forest staff and assistants fought to contain these fires: 3,000 Appreciation of UBC Research Forest staff, BC wildland firefighters, emergency staff and volunteers: pricelessÌý

*Inspired by Harper's Index, compiled by Dr. Lori Daniels
Figures cited are the latest available as of September 8, 2017Ìý