Wildfires in British Columbia expected to disrupt operations and increase timber prices

Rapidly spreading wildfires in British Columbia are set to tighten the supply of wood products and raise prices as they disrupt timber operations during the year's peak building season, industry and analysts said on Tuesday. Forestry products are a significant driver of the economy of British Columbia, which bills itself as the world's biggest exporter of softwood lumber, a product targeted by U.S. tariffs in April as a trade dispute escalated. Fires across the western province intensified last Friday and have since covered more than 38,000 hectares (93,900 acres). They have forced more than ...