Wildfire Averages
The current 10-year average, taken from 2009 to 2019, is 1,758 wildfires from April 1st to March 31st the following year. On average, 46.3% of these are confirmed human-caused and 63.0% are confirmed lightning-caused.
The following table shows general statistics of wildfire activity in B.C. since 2008.
| Year | Total Fires | Total Hectares | Total Cost (millions) | Average Hectares per Fire | Person-caused | Person-caused (%) | Lightning-caused | Lightning-caused (%) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | 825 | 21,138 | $182.5 | 25.6 | 448 | (54.3%) | 375 | (45.4%) |
| 2018 | 2,117 | 1,354,284 | $615.0 | 639.7 | 535 | (25.3%) | 1,489 | (70.3%) |
| 2017 | 1,353 | 1,216,053 | $649.0 | 898.8 | 552 | (40.8%) | 773 | (57.1%) |
| 2016 | 1,050 | 100,366 | $129.0 | 95.6 | 564 | (53.7%) | 486 | (46.3%) |
| 2015 | 1,858 | 280,605 | $277.0 | 151.0 | 617 | (33.2%) | 1,237 | (66.6%) |
| 2014 | 1,481 | 369,168 | $297.9 | 249.3 | 664 | (44.8%) | 817 | (55.2%) |
| 2013 | 1,861 | 18,298 | $122.2 | 9.8 | 564 | (30.3%) | 1,297 | (69.7%) |
| 2012 | 1,649 | 102,122 | $133.6 | 61.9 | 708 | (42.9%) | 941 | (57.1%) |
| 2011 | 653 | 12,604 | $53.5 | 19.3 | 444 | (68.0%) | 209 | (32.0%) |
| 2010 | 1,672 | 337,149 | $212.2 | 201.6 | 680 | (40.7%) | 992 | (59.3%) |
| 2009 | 3,064 | 247,419 | $382.1 | 80.8 | 881 | (28.8%) | 2,183 | (71.2%) |
| Average | 1,758 | 369,019 | N/A | 221.2 | 605 | (46.3%) | 982 | (63.0%) |
| 2008 | 2,023 | 13,240 | $82.1 | 6.5 | 848 | (41.9%) | 1,175 | (58.1%) |
