Nearly one-third of northeast BC forests could burn by year-end

July 14, 2025

RED FM News Desk

Approximately 30 percent of the forested land base in the Prince George Fire Centre, which covers B.C.’s northeast, is likely to burn by the end of this year, according to the provincial government.

Forest Minister Ravi Parmar stated that the region has already seen nearly 7,000 square kilometers burned by wildfires since June. This is by far the most of any of B.C.’s six fire centers, with the second highest being the Northwest Fire Centre, where just under 40 square kilometers have burned.

“People in the area have endured not just the physical threat of fires, but the emotional toll of displacement, smoke, and uncertainty,” Parmar said during a visit to the fire-affected region this week.

The province reports that over the past two fire seasons, wildfires have burned more forest area in the region than in the previous 60 years combined, amounting to 10 percent of the region’s total land area.

As a region, the Prince George Fire Centre spans over 330,000 square kilometers, making it more than ten times the size of Vancouver Island. This area has witnessed some of the province’s most destructive wildfires, including the 2023 Donnie Creek wildfire, which was the largest recorded fire in B.C.’s history.