High winds in forecast pose looming fire threat, B.C. Wildfire Service says, as heat wave peaks

The latest:

• Seasonal temperatures are expected to return to southern B.C. starting Thursday, but wildfire officials say incoming winds will increase fire risk.
• Some residents west of Lillooet and near Keremeos were placed on evacuation order due to expanding wildfires.
• Evacuation alerts were expanded in relation to the Lower East Adams Lake fire, 21 kilometres north of Chase.
• Some southeastern areas are experiencing dense smoke and falling ash, the B.C. Wildfire Service said.
• 19 daily heat records were broken on Tuesday, including a high of 42.2 C in Lytton, according to Environment Canada.

Wildfire crews in British Columbia are bracing for an incoming weather system expected to bring strong winds and dry lightning by Thursday, but conditions are already flaring in at least two areas of the province.

The Regional District of Okanagan-Similkameen has issued an evacuation order for the area southwest of Keremeos affected by two wildfires that have been burning for several weeks.

Thirteen properties have been ordered evacuated along the Ashnola River and in the Snowy Protected area of Cathedral Provincial Park, including Cathedral Lakes Lodge.

Approximately 150 people had been told to shelter in place at the lodge. On Wednesday afternoon, officials said everyone from the lodge and surrounding area had been successfully rescued.

An emergency support services reception centre has been activated at the Village of Keremeos Victory Hall.

Residents in 74 other properties along the Similkameen River west of Keremeos must be ready to leave because of increased activity at what the B.C. Wildfire Service is now calling the Crater Creek wildfire, two fires burning close together that have since combined.

Evacuation orders were also renewed late Tuesday for two properties close to the 46-square-kilometre Casper Creek wildfire near the communities of Shalath and Seton-Portage, west of Lillooet, which has been burning since early July.

The Squamish-Lillooet Regional District says strong winds fanned that fire, forcing the evacuations, the closure of Mission Mountain  Road and evacuation alerts for properties on both sides of the western end of Seton Lake and the north shore of Anderson Lake.

More stories on wildfires and heat:

Holding pattern on Gun Lake orders

On Wednesday, the Columbia Shuswap Regional District expanded evacuation alerts for the community of Scotch Creek, Lee Creek and communities north of the Adams Lake Ferry Terminal due to the Lower Adams Lake East wildfire.

The fire, burning in the Kamloops Fire Centre area, about 21 kilometres north of Chase, B.C., is now 10 square kilometres in size and has been burning out of control since July 12.

The B.C. Wildfire Service (BCWS) website says it was close to lifting evacuation orders covering more than 200 properties around Gun Lake, north of Pemberton, where the 26-square-kilometre Downton Lake fire has destroyed three properties, but those plans have been stalled because of the incoming wind and potential lightning.

Roughly 370 wildfires are burning in the province, 145 of which are considered out of control and 11 of which are fires of note, meaning they are highly visible or threaten people or property.

The wildfire danger rating has climbed to high or extreme across the southern third of the province and a large section of the central Interior as an ongoing heat wave brings sweltering temperatures to those regions.

This season has been B.C.’s worst wildfire season to date in terms of area burned, with more than 1,700 wildfires charring about 16,000 square kilometres so far this year.

On Wednesday the BCWS said some parts of the southeastern B.C. were seeing increased smoke from wildfires and others were experiencing falling ash.

On Wednesday, in addition to the southeast, parts of the Cariboo, East Columbia, West Columbia, Nicola, and Stuart-Nechako regions were under a smoky skies bulletin.

Heat records fall

Another 19 daily temperature records were broken on Tuesday, according to Environment Canada, including a countrywide high mark of 42.2 C in Lytton. 

The weather agency said several other communities in B.C. broke the 40 C barrier, including Ashcroft, Lillooet, Pemberton and Warfield near Trail.

Both Kelowna and Kamloops hit new daily highs Tuesday at 38.6 C and 39.6 C, respectively, with the Kamloops mark breaking a record going back to 1967.

Environment Canada meteorologist Greg Walters said the high temperatures were all related to an extremely warm air mass over the province.

“The records that have been broken, some of them go back quite a ways,” he said. “It’s certainly a significant event for this time of year.”

Walters said the forecast shows a return to more seasonal temperatures across the province, which means highs 5-7 C cooler on Friday. 

Anyone placed under an evacuation order should leave the area immediately. 

Evacuation centres have been set up throughout the province to assist anyone evacuating from a community under threat from a wildfire.

To find the centre closest to you, visit the EmergencyInfoBC website.

Evacuees are encouraged to register with Emergency Support Services online, whether or not they access services at an evacuation centre.

Do you have a story to share?

If you’ve been affected by the B.C. wildfires and want to share your story, email cbcnewsvancouver@cbc.ca.