British Columbia now has about 50 active wildfires, up from 30 a day earlier, after overnight lightning strikes ignited 27 new blazes across the province.
The BC Wildfire Service reports the fires follow thunderstorms in Metro Vancouver, the southern Interior, Vancouver Island, and the Kootenay region. Hundreds of homes remain under evacuation orders or alerts, including in Boston Bar, where a fire has grown to just over 201 square kilometers.
Evacuations and fire response in B.C.
Pemberton, located 30 kilometers north of Whistler, also remains under evacuation orders. Crews worked overnight to contain a fire burning within kilometers of the town of 3,400 residents. Emily Fardad with the BC Wildfire Service said no structures are at risk, and officials do not expect changes to existing evacuation orders despite visible flames and smoke.
An evacuation order was issued this week for One Mile Lake Park, while other areas were placed under alert. Fire officials had previously warned of increased wildfire activity due to expected lightning and dry conditions.
What to watch for next
Officials continue to monitor the situation as warm, dry weather sustains fire risks. Residents in affected areas are advised to stay alert for updates on evacuation orders and fire activity.
