Category Archives: Forest Fires

©NWT Fire

Northwest Territories officials are warning of “extreme fire weather conditions” across much of the territory on Thursday, with hot and dry weather expected to continue in the coming days. Fire information officer Mike Westwick said there were 10 new fires in the territory on Thursday, all triggered by lightning. …Westwick said a fire 35 kilometres west of the community of Gamètì, between Great Slave and Great Bear Lakes, has grown significantly. He said there is currently no danger to the community even though residents may see smoke. Another fire near Wrigley has moved a little closer to the hamlet. While moist air and a cold front are helping firefighters there, Westwick said the wind has pushed the flames about a kilometre closer. It’s now about 11 kilometres from the community. Officials say there’s no imminent threat to any homes or structures.

NWT Fire Facebook Update: Fire Weather Warning

©BCWildfireService

Parts of Pemberton, B.C., are under an evacuation alert due to the Signal Hill wildfire. The Village of Pemberton issued the alert, which covers 1,377 properties, late Wednesday. The Squamish-Lillooet Regional District also issued an alert at that time for all properties in Area C on Collins Road to One Mile Lake to the Lillooet River. Residents are asked to prepare for to evacuate at a moment’s notice. Pemberton Mayor Mike Richman said these alerts were issued to prepare those affected should the fire move toward the community. Richman said fire crews were happy with the work they had done Thursday, but faced challenges as wind picked up into the evening. He said the fire was being pushed to the east, away from power lines and away from the village. An evacuation order is also in place for One Mile Lake Park. …The B.C. Wildfire Service (BCWS) says the wildfire was discovered on Wednesday, about five kilometres from Highway 99.

Hot, windy weather and the threat of dry lightning have made firefighting efforts near Boston Bar in B.C.’s Fraser Canyon more dangerous, the wildfire service says. B.C. Wildfire Service said challenging weather conditions are increasing the risk to those working on both the Brunswick Creek and Ainslie Creek wildfires. known together as the Brunswick complex. “Right now, for the safety of our crews, we are going to switch our tactics for the next 24 to 48 hours and focus primarily on structure defence and protection,” said BCWS. “So, moving away from the flanks of the fires that are active for the safety of our crews.” Environment Canada’s website showed Boston Bar sitting at 38 C on Thursday afternoon, with a chance of lightning in the evening. …An evacuation order was issued Thursday morning for the Boston Bar townsite after fires in the area grew more aggressive overnight. …An area motel owner said the smoke is so thick around Boston Bar that, at times, it’s impossible to breathe.

©BC Wildfire Service

The aircraft churned through the Fraser Canyon night like an alien spectre, twin spotlights illuminating its surroundings but leaving its own bulk obscured. Only when the spectre drifted in front of a wall of orange did the oblongated form of a helicopter reveal itself. That helicopter, dropping water on the blazing hillside, offered a spark of hope for the small Fraser Canyon community of Boston Bar. Ten hours later, Boston Bar would be evacuated as crews braced for a potentially terrible day of fire weather and assessed the changing dynamics from the overnight growth of the blaze. When I stopped briefly in Boston Bar Wednesday evening around 11 p.m., a future evacuation order seemed almost inevitable. Two weeks earlier, the Brunswick Creek fire had broken out on the western side of the river and forced the evacuation of hundreds of rural and First Nation residents, including those in the small community of North Bend.

©BCWildfireService

Parts of Pemberton, B.C., are under an evacuation alert due to the Signal Hill wildfire. The Village of Pemberton issued an alert at around 11:30 p.m. PT Wednesday. The Squamish-Lillooet Regional District (SLRD) also issued an alert at that time for all properties in Area C on Collins Road to One Mile Lake to the Lillooet River. It tells residents to prepare for evacuation if necessary “because of the potential danger to life and health.” An evacuation order is also in place for One Mile Lake Park to “provide safe working space to crews supporting fire operations.” The village said on its website early Thursday morning that the wildfire was discovered about five kilometres from Highway 99. As of midnight Thursday, the fire was 0.1 square kilometres (10 hectares) in size, according to the B.C. Wildfire Service (BCWS). …On social media, the wildfire service said skimmers are working out of Green Lake, northeast of Whistler. 

The Saskatchewan Public Safety Agency (SPSA) reported 46 active wildfires across the province as of 11 a.m. Wednesday, with firefighting crews continuing suppression and containment efforts on several significant fires. According to the SPSA, four fires are currently classified as contained, eight are not contained, 26 remain under ongoing assessment, and eight are in the protecting values stage. Among the province’s active wildfires, the BUDD fire, located east of Lac La Ronge, remains uncontained and has grown to 2,971 hectares. Fire crews are conducting planned burn-out operations, intentionally igniting forest fuels between a controlled line and the wildfire to help slow its spread. Officials said residents and land users may see smoke or flames on the north and northeast sides of the fire as the operation proceeds. The SPSA emphasized that ignition operations are carefully planned by wildfire specialists, taking into account weather conditions, available resources and public safety.

OSOYOOS – The Regional District of Okanagan-Similkameen has issued an evacuation alert for dozens of homes and properties that are being threatened by a fire on Anarchist Mountain east of Osoyoos, B.C. Residents on Cougar Court and the Sasquatch Trail should be ready to leave as crews battle a blaze on the mountain. The Anarchist Mountain Fire Department says that as of 4 p.m. the fire was being held, but people are being told to avoid the area “to allow emergency personnel to work safely and efficiently.” The local firefighters are battling the blaze with the help of the BC Wildfire Service and the South Okanagan Task Force, and the cause is under investigation. …Elsewhere in B.C., crews fighting out-of-control wildfires near Boston Bar, B.C., were taking advantage of favourable weather to attack the blazes directly, before fire activity was expected to pick up after tempered behaviour over the weekend.

©BCWildfireService

Crews fighting out-of-control wildfires near Boston Bar, B.C., were taking advantage of favourable weather to attack the fires directly, before fire activity is expected to pick up after tempered behaviour over the weekend. The size of the Brunswick complex of wildfires, consisting of the Brunswick Creek and Ainslie Creek wildfires, has changed little since last week with a combined size of more than 188 square kilometres after a weekend of rain and cooler weather. The B.C. Wildfire Service said in an overnight update that crews were also working to protect structures near Boothroyd while establishing fire lines on the southwest flank of the Ainslie Creek wildfire. …An evacuation alert covering 61 properties near Merritt remains in effect, issued by the Thompson-Nicola Regional District, while the Nooaitch Indian Band had also told residents of its main reserve to get ready to leave on short notice last week.

©BC Wildfire Service

Officials reopened Highway 1 through British Columbia’s Fraser Canyon on Saturday, but warned that active wildfire operations continue in the area. The route had been closed since July 7, as the Brunswick wildfire complex near Boston Bar expanded rapidly in size. As of Saturday morning, the Brunswick Creek wildfire on the west side of the canyon was burning at 28.36 square kilometres and the Ainslie Creek wildfire on the east side was burning at 158.47 sq. km. Both fires remain out of control, and multiple evacuation orders and alerts remain in effect. …while Highway 1 had reopened, there was only one lane active in each direction… No stopping is permitted in the wildfire zone, and drivers are urged to watch for signage and crews. [Prior to the closure] “we had issues with numerous folks pulling over at pullouts to take pictures and videos of the fire,” said B.C. Wildfire Service fire information officer Julia Caracni.

Additional coverage in CBC News: Wildfire sparks East Kootenay evacuation alert, weather helps firefight near Boston Bar

©BC Wildfire Service

Dozens of properties in British Columbia’s East Kootenay region are under an evacuation alert as another out-of-control wildfire burns. The Regional District of East Kootenay placed 72 properties in the Premier Lake area under an evacuation alert after the Lussier River fire grew Saturday. It’s the latest B.C. wildfire notice asking people to be prepared to flee since twin blazes near Boston Bar in the Fraser Canyon evacuations. Information from the BC Wildfire Service shows one of the two fires has grown since Friday. …The wildfire service is also asking the public to stop behaviours that could hinder their work. An overnight statement from the agency says that since Highway 1 reopened Saturday, between Boston Bar and Jackass Summit, drivers have been speeding through the fire zone and even stopping to film the ongoing firefighting efforts.. … a drone was also seen flying near the Brunswick Creek wildfire while emergency aircrews were fighting the blaze.

©BCWS

The BC Wildfire Service will continue battling the Brunswick complex overnight with night-vision helicopters dropping water and crews conducting direct attack and patrols. “We are operating 24-hours a day on the complex fires,” the wildfire service said in an online update. The complex includes the 2,621-hectare Brunswick Creek wildfire and the Ainslie Creek fire, now estimated at 15,497 hectares. While down from an earlier estimate of 16,987 hectares, the Ainslie Creek fire has grown significantly since earlier this week. The Brunswick Creek fire, which started July 2, sparked the Ainslie Creek blaze after embers crossed Highway 1, which remains closed through the area. Strong south winds of up to 40 km/h fuelled aggressive fire behaviour Wednesday and are expected to continue overnight, according to an online BCWS update. …The BCWS said fire activity increased Thursday along the west and south flanks of the Ainslie Creek fire. 

©BCWildfireService

As of Wednesday morning, the Brunswick Creek fire near Boston Bar, B.C., has grown to 2,623 hectares and has forced more evacuations as it burns out of control and threatens homes. The fire, which has been burning since July 2, is considered out of control. Several evacuation orders have been issued by the local regional district and nearby First Nations. Just across Highway 1 from the Brunswick Creek fire, the Ainslie Creek fire has burned 16,987 hectares as of 6:50 p.m. PT. An evacuation alert was issued at 7:00 p.m. PT on Wednesday for approximately 61 properties west of Spius Creek including Petit Creek Road and Prospect Creek Forest Service Road. About 230 B.C. Hydro customers in and around the Boston Bar evacuation zone have been without electricity since Tuesday afternoon. Highway 1 near Boston Bar is closed in both directions as a result of the two fires. Both fires are suspected to be caused by human activity.

© BC Wildfire Service

The B.C. Wildfire Service says a large column of smoke could be seen on Tuesday as hot, windy conditions increased fire behaviour at two wildfires burning in the Fraser Canyon. The Brunswick Creek wildfire is located on the west side of the Fraser River. Ainslie Creek, sparked by embers from the Brunswick blaze, is burning an estimated 695 hectares across the river to the northeast. “Hot, dry weather and windy conditions drove elevated fire behaviour and fire growth today. Wind and elevated fire behaviour are anticipated into this evening,” BCWS said. A thick blanket of smoke from the fires and falling ash blew into Kamloops on Tuesday evening. Air quality advisories have been issued. As of Tuesday afternoon, BCWS estimated the larger Brunswick Creek wildfire has now burned 1,800 hectares. …firefighters are working to prevent the wildfire from affecting nearby communities and the Trans-Canada Highway corridor, which was closed to traffic Tuesday afternoon.

Related coverage in CFJC Today: Smoke from distant fire darkens Kamloops sky to eerie hue

©NWT Fire

One home has been lost in Fort Simpson, N.W.T., as firefighters battle a wildfire that forced residents from their homes on June 28. …Fort Simpson Mayor Les Wright told CBC News on Monday afternoon that around 20 more people had left. The community of about 1,300 people was ordered to evacuate to Yellowknife, more than 600 kilometres away, over a week ago. …wildfire information officer Forrest Tower said the fire, which as of a Monday afternoon update was over 15,000 hectares in size, is expected to continue to grow this week, but that growth would be to the north — away from the community — and there is currently no threat to the village itself. Tower said winds are bringing smoke into town, making it challenging for crews to fly, but fire behaviour has diminished. Tower said another 25 firefighters are expected to arrive in Fort Simpson on Monday.

©BC Wildfire Service

Environment Canada has issued an air quality warning Monday for the area around Boston Bar, B.C., where a wildfire is burning for its fifth day. The Brunswick Creek wildfire, located about 55 kilometres north of Hope, was estimated at 12.3 square kilometres (1,230 hectares) in size on Monday and was burning in steep terrain, according to the B.C. Wildfire Service (BCWS). The wildfire did not grow overnight, though the BCWS noted aviation operations have been restricted due to poor visibility and high winds, which pose a risk for responder safety and can affect air operations. Fire information officer Sam Bellion said embers from the fire had also sparked three new spot fires, two of which were under control while the other had grown to 73 hectares in size. Weather conditions are also challenging. “Relative humidity continues to drop today, with elevated winds on Tuesday and Wednesday gusting of up to 40 to 50 kilometres per hour,” Bellion said.

©BC Wildfire Service

An aggressive wildfire burning near Boston Bar, B.C., has grown sharply and has forced evacuation orders and alerts in some communities in the Fraser Canyon. The Brunswick Creek wildfire has grown from about 100 hectares on Saturday to more than 1,200 hectares, according to the B.C. Wildfire Service. It is now listed as a wildfire of note — the only fire categorized as such in the province. The wildfire service uses that category for fires that are creating an increased level of public interest and to make response information easier to find. Officials detected the Brunswick Creek fire on July 2 burning near the community of Boston Bar, along Highway 1. It is believed to have been sparked by human activity. The Fraser Valley Regional District has issued an evacuation order for the entire community of North Bend and the surrounding area extending north along Chaumox Road, affecting about 146 properties.

Additional coverage in the Vancouver Sun by Tiffany Crawford: Evacuation order issued for out-of-control wildfire near Boston Bar