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The latest on the wildfires:
The B.C. Wildfire Service (BCWS) is watching the weather closely as evacuation orders remain in place for parts of the province most affected by wildfires.
Hot and dry conditions over the last week prompted evacuation orders for numerous communities in south-central B.C.
Those orders remain in place for the Downton Lake wildfire northwest of Whistler, the Lower East Adams Lake fire northeast of Kamloops, and the Stein Mountain wildfire north of Lytton.
However, the BCWS says cooler conditions are likely to settle over the province for a few days starting Monday, which may help to cool fire behaviour.
“We’re going to see a really strong trough sweep across the province, almost like a fall looking system,” said Matt MacDonald, the lead fire weather forecaster with the BCWS, on Sunday. “It’s going to bring rain to the northern portions of the province, which is fantastic news.”
MacDonald cautions, however, that the cooling conditions are not likely to last until the end of the week, with hot conditions expected to return on Wednesday.
“If we look out on the horizon, we’re far from over with this fire season,” he said. “August is really the core of the fire season and fortunately we do have a little bit of a reprieve here.”
The hot and dry conditions during the weekend led to numerous new fire starts, with MacDonald saying over 500 lightning strikes in southeast B.C. led to new blazes starting.
A smoky skies bulletin is in place for nearly all of that region, including Kamloops, Kelowna and Cranbrook.
Hundreds of people out of homes
Firefighters near Adams Lake in the Interior are working to protect homes near popular recreational communities, with over 100 properties remaining on evacuation order.
“Crews are actively protecting homes and ensuring that all of the structural protection apparatus are working, should the fire continue to advance that way,” said Taylor Colman, a fire information officer on Sunday. “But we’re not anticipating that at this time.”
North of Lytton, more than a dozen homes across First Nations reserves and in the Thompson-Nicola Regional District are also on evacuation order due to the Stein Mountain wildfire.
Niakia Hanna, chief of the Lytton First Nation, said there was a lot of trauma associated with wildfires in the community, after the devastating 2021 blaze that destroyed the entire community.
“The emotions are running high anytime we come across and and spot smoke,” he told CBC News. “Even the smell of smoke in the area is obviously a trigger for people.”
The Downton Lake wildfire northwest of Whistler, which led to an evacuation order for over 200 properties near the popular Gun Lake, grew overnight to nearly 25 square kilometres.
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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 Emergency Management B.C. 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.
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