Prince George, B.C. – B.C.’s provincial state of emergency has been extended another two weeks.

Driven by the province’s wildfire situation, it will end Aug. 18. Premier John Horgan announced a previous extension on July 19.

The extension will apply to the entire province ensuring that federal, provincial and local resources can be delivered in a co-ordinated response to the wildfire situation and continue to ensure public safety.

The extension also means the Province will continue to provide ongoing financial support to evacuees, with $600-per-household funding, which will be renewed every two weeks until evacuees return home.

As of 9 a.m. this morning, there were 122 wildfires burning in B.C. and as of 8 p.m. last night there were 25 evacuation orders affecting approximately 7,127 people plus 42 evacuation alerts impacting almost 25,000 people.

The state of emergency gives agencies such as Emergency Management BC, the Fire Commissioner, the Ministry of Forests, Lands, Natural Resource Operations and Rural Development and the RCMP the authority, under the Wildfire Act, to take every action necessary to fight the wildfires and protect residents.