Prince George , B.C.- The summer of 2009 will go in the books as one of the most expensive when it comes to wildfires, both in terms of hectares burned, and in costs to battle the flames.

As of Monday, more than 42 thousand hectares of forest had burned since April 1^st. More than half of the area burned last year was in the P.G. Fire Centre with nearly 25 thousand hectares burned.

 

In 2008, the total number of fires recorded across the province was more than the 10-year average (1975 compared with 1805), but the number of hectares burned was below average (12,743 compared with 78,643). The cost of direct fire fighting for the season was $76.2 million, which is well below the 10-year average of $108 million.

 

This year, with 42,458 hectares burned, the fires have crossed the half way mark of the 10 year average, and nearly quadrupled the amount of hectares burned in 2008.

 

The cost so far this year, is in the $50 million range, which is about half the average of $108 million for the year.

 

The most financially expensive year was 2003, the year fires ravaged Kelowna and Barriere. That summer, $371.9 million was spent fighting fires.