Officials in British Columbia have broadened evacuation orders linked to the province’s largest wildfire. The Squamish-Lillooet Regional District extended an evacuation order to include properties near Highway 99 in the Marble Canyon area, south of the Pear Lake wildfire. Similarly, the Thompson-Nicola Regional District expanded an evacuation order along Highway 99, west of the Highway 97 junction. These expanded orders now encompass nearly 200 properties collectively.
Additionally, the Ts’kw’aylaxw First Nation has issued evacuation orders for several reserves. Evacuation alerts have also been expanded by all three governments. The Pear Lake wildfire has scorched over 1,647 square kilometers and has destroyed structures on more than 120 properties, primarily around Clinton, with the fire’s most active areas currently on its western and southern boundaries.
In other news, Environment Canada issued a yellow severe thunderstorm watch for much of the B.C. Interior, Cariboo, and Metro Vancouver, with severe thunderstorm warnings in effect for parts of Vancouver Island. The B.C. Wildfire Service warned of possible dry lightning strikes and high winds in the southern and central Interior, potentially leading to increased fire activity and new starts.
Furthermore, a new lightning-sparked wildfire near Kamloops prompted crews to respond in the Jacko Lake area. By Saturday evening, the fire had reached 44 hectares in size and was being held within its current boundaries. The B.C. Wildfire Service deployed personnel and air crews to the scene, reporting good progress in containment efforts.
As of the latest update, there were over 150 active wildfires in B.C., with close to 60 of them categorized as out of control. The provincial state of emergency related to wildfires has been extended by the B.C. government until at least August 29.
