From: brewnoserii@gmail.com   
      
   CBC News Posted: Jul 22, 2015   
      
   B.C. fires: Christy Clark blames climate change for wildfire increase   
      
   Province has already spent $100M more than budgeted, premier says   
      
   B.C. Premier Christy Clark says wildfire seasons like the one the province is   
   currently experiencing will become more common because of climate change.   
      
      
   "Climate change has altered the terrain.  It's made us much more vulnerable to   
   fire," said Clark.   
      
   "We have to be planning with the knowledge that this isn't going to be an   
   unusual year."   
      
   The premier made the remarks at the site of the Westside Road fire near West   
   Kelowna after flying over the area to view the damage.   
      
   There are 248 fires burning in B.C.   
      
   Only 12 new fires started Tuesday, compared to 43 the previous day -- and 100   
   on the hottest days.   
      
   This afternoon an evacuation order for 80 properties near Bear Creek in West   
   Kelowna was rescinded, with that fire (separate from the Westside Road fire)   
   completely contained.   
      
   Ryan Turcot of the BC Wildfire Service hopes that cooler, wetter weather   
   predicted this weekend may help the situation for other evacuees.   
      
   $100M cost overruns   
      
   The parched conditions in the Interior are to blame for cost overruns, Clark   
   says.   
      
   The province has only budgeted $63 million for wildfires, which Clark said is   
   based on a five- to six-year average.   
      
   She said so far this year the province has spent $163 million fighting the   
   fires and could spend as much as $400 million.   
      
   Clark predicted the province will need more resources in coming years.   
      
   "You never want to have to spend more money than you need to, but we're going   
   to spend as much as needed to control these fires," she said.   
      
   The premier said because of the province's $1.7-billion surplus this year, the   
   extra expense should not put B.C. into deficit.   
      
   Tougher penalties   
      
   Clark said the province is considering enacting harsher penalties for those   
   who start wildfires.  Almost 40 per cent of fires in B.C. in the past 10 years   
   have been caused by people.   
      
   "We've got to start thinking about stiffer penalties for people," said Clark.    
   "People need to be thinking hard about their behaviour and the impact it can   
   have."   
      
   Some options may include impounding the cars of those who have flicked   
   cigarettes out their windows.   Clark said the province will consult with   
   residents before implementing any changes.   
      
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