Over $80 million spent so far on firefighting

Forest fire fighting costs are continuing to rise for this year.

So far over $80 million has been spent to combat fires that have been burning across BC.

Finance Minister Mike de Jong says that’s high for this time of year.

“I have very specific recollections of the 2003 season, and one shortly a few years thereafter,” says de Jong, “I think we are ahead of the pace there.”

de Jong says there are no restrictions on drawing from contingency funds.

So far this year over 221,000 hectares have been lost due to forest fires.