KAMLOOPS, B.C. - British Columbia is poised to face its worst wildfire season as flames scorch thousands of hectares of land and costs rise to deal with the devastation.

BC Wildfire Service spokesman Kevin Skrepnek says an estimated 8,450 square kilometres of forest, brush and grassland has been burned since the start of the wildfire season on April 1.

That compares with a record loss of 8,550 square kilometres in 1958.

Skrepnek says 154 wildfires are burning across the province and the firefighting price tag has reached $309 million, though that figure does not include costs for the loss for more than 70 homes and 118 outbuildings.

He says the largest wildfire, in Hanceville, southwest of Williams Lake, now covers 2,120 square kilometres.

Chris Duffy, executive director of operations for Emergency Management BC, says nearly 9,300 people remain out of their homes as 40 evacuation orders are still in place.