20+ years, I think.

I can remember 20 years ago, with the mountain pine beetle infestation spreading, that fires were going to be a problem. There was an open season aimed at beetle-killed wood, but after a while, the beetle kill wasn’t that economical, or the cheaper stuff was logged.

That’s just one factor though. You also have drier, hotter summers on top of that.

I remember being evacuated from my family’s cabin on Paul Lake back in 2003 for the McLure fire. I believe it was the worst year ever, between the McLure fire and the Okanagan Mountain Park Fire. Until 2009. Which topped “Firestorm 2003” IIRC. And then 2017, 2018, 2021, and I don’t even keep track any more.

The BC Wildfire Service summary is a pretty sobering review.

Heck, here’s an article from the Tyee in 2021, about the future of forest fires in Canada. To be fair, I think our forest management and wildfire fighting has been evolving, and needs to continue to evolve and improve. Ultimately though, it feels like re-arranging the deck chairs on the Titanic. Longer, hotter, drier summers. Bc isn’t alone in experiencing more and more intense forest fires. Australia 2019-2020 IIRC, and of course California. I think there was major forest fire in Germany recently.