The B.C government is telling people not to travel into the backcountry due to fears that out-of-control wildfires will only get worse over the next 36 hours.

Forests and Range Minister Pat Bell told the Straight that despite the recent drop in temperature, strong winds and lightning on Wednesday and Thursday (August 18 and 19) pose a big risk to forests across B.C.

“There are certainly winds in the forecast in the area of 60 kilometres per hour, which mean fires can move literally hundreds of kilometres in a matter of few hours,” Bell said by phone.

Record-breaking temperatures and a lack of rain the past couple of months, combined with the shortage of snowfall this past winter, have resulted in thousands of British Columbians being ready to evacuate their homes at a moment’s notice.

Nearly 300 fires are burning across B.C., and 70 percent of the province is rated at high or extreme risk for forest fires.

Bell is warning the public to heed evacuation notices and orders, and to remember that it’s not residents’ responsibility to protect their homes from wildfires.

“We have 4,000 people out there working actively fighting fires,” he said. “Your life is not worth your home.”

According to Bell, the biggest concern right now isn’t the number of fires taking place but the size that they might reach. He said the province has the authority to spend what it needs to fight the fires. To date, the bill is $120 million.

“It’s about $3- to $4-million per day, but there is lots of risk and we will do everything we can to prevent it,” Bell said.