BURST
B.C. firefighters are battling dozens of out-of-control wildfires in the province, as more residents were told to pack up and leave their homes Wednesday evening.
Shortly after 9 p.m., an evacuation order was issued by the Squamish-Lillooet Regional District because of the Bonanza Creek Wildfire in the South Chilcotin Mountains area. The 40-square-kilometre blaze was sparked by lightning on Tuesday and has led to two evacuation alerts and one order, according to the B.C. Wildfire Service.
The regional district also issued an overnight evacuation alert for 50 properties in Texas Creek, south of Lillooet because of the Riley Creek wildfire. That fire is about one square kilometre in size and considered out of control.
Also Wednesday night, evacuation orders and alerts were expanded north of Clinton because of the Fiftynine Creek wildfire, which has grown to more than 100 square kilometres. Residents in the Village of Clinton, located about 40 kilometres northwest of Cache Creek, are on evacuation alert.
The City of Kimberley in southeast B.C. also remains under evacuation alert because of the Matthew Creek wildfire. The fire, which was caused by lighting, has grown to more than five square kilometres. The alert was issued by the City of Kimberley including all properties within the municipal boundaries.
Meanwhile, the Fraser Valley Regional District this week ordered residents who have remained in the Boston Bar area to leave immediately as a new blaze erupted south of the Brunswick Creek wildfire complex.
On Tuesday, at 5 p.m., the district said the new fire was spreading quickly due to strong winds, and anyone in the area was in danger.
The area in B.C.’s Fraser Canyon has been under evacuation order since last Thursday, but some residents have remained.
The wildfire complex comprises the Brunswick and Ainslie creeks wildfires that were discovered July 4. The Brunswick Complex has led to several highway closures, including Highway 1 south of Boston Bar. Highway 3 is closed because of the Norwegian Creek wildfire in Manning Park.
As of Thursday morning, there were 84 wildfires burning in B.C., including five wildfires of note, according to the B.C. Wildfire Service.
More to come …