B.C.'s wildfires have burned the equivalent of nearly 700,000 Canadian football fields of land already this season
The latest data from B.C.'s provincial government is providing a clear picture of just how devastating this year's wildfire season has been.
The province has provided daily updates with what it calls "quick statistics" about the fires, and the latest showed 567,950 hectares of land has been burned this year.
Putting it into perspective, Canadian football fields measure 8,152 square metres, or 0.8152 hectares – a bit larger than south of the border – meaning the area burnt by wildfires is the equivalent of about 696,700 Canadian football fields.
In NFL football fields, it's 1,063,208.
The City of Vancouver is 115 square kilometres, so the amount of land burned by wildfires is 49.3 times the size of the city. The metropolitan region is about 2,877 square kilometres. The wildfires have burned nearly two times that area.
If the fire-scorched land was all in one place, it could hold 18 parcels of land the size of Kamloops, 26 the size of Kelowna or 291 the size of B.C.'s capital, Victoria.
The Greater Toronto Area could fit inside nine times.
OTHER NUMBERS
Currently there are 292 wildfires considered to be active in B.C., according to the provincial wildfire service's interactive dashboard. Of those, 108 were sparked within the last week. A little over one-tenth of the fires were ignited in the last two days.
Since April 1 there have been 1,372 fires noted in B.C.
In terms of resources, the province said 3,612 firefighters and other personnel are currently fighting. Nearly 600 of those are from out-of-province.
There are 204 helicopters and planes supporting crews on the ground.
Sixty-three evacuation orders were in place as of Wednesday evening, issued for a total of 4,228 properties in B.C.
Another 103 areas are under evacuation alert, or 21,403 properties.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Asking rent prices up 9.3% across Canada, Ontario sees only decline: report
A new report says the average asking rent for a home in Canada in April was up 9.3 per cent compared with a year ago, while a slight month-over-month increase was also recorded for the first time since January.
What is basic income, and how would it impact me?
Parliamentarians are considering a pair of bills aiming to lift people out of poverty through a basic income program, but some fear these types of systems could result in more taxes for Canadians who are already financially struggling.
'I may have some nightmares:' Man survives being bitten by 2 sharks in Bahamas
A man who was bitten by two sharks in the Bahamas said Thursday he's 'thankful that I'm here' while sharing his story of survival.
Magnitude 4.2 earthquake reported off Vancouver Island's west coast
A 4.2-magnitude earthquake was recorded west of Vancouver Island early Friday morning.
Mexico's president accuses press and volunteer searchers for missing people of 'necrophilia'
The administration of Mexico's president has accused the press and volunteer searchers who look for the bodies of missing people of 'necrophilia,' comments that drew criticism this week.
WATCH Expecting an interest rate cut in June? Don't bet on it after new jobs data
Canada's labour market rebounded in April, adding more than 90,000 jobs, a staggering number of new positions after four consecutive months of little change.
Out-of-control wildfire burning near Fort McMurray
As of 9 a.m. on Friday, the wildfire burning 28 kilometres southwest of the northeastern Alberta city was 25 hectares in size.
Prince William says wife Kate is 'doing well'
Prince William said on Friday his wife Kate was 'doing well' in a rare public comment about the Princess of Wales as she undergoes preventative chemotherapy for cancer.
'Irate male' assaulted Newfoundland officers with block of cheese, police say
Police in Newfoundland say patrol officers were assaulted Thursday by a "very irate male" wielding a block of cheese.