Dry forests ‘very receptive to ignition’ B.C. Wildfire Service says, as fires spark provincewide

Over a dozen new fires have sparked across the province over the last 24 hours, and the B.C. Wildfire Service says dry forests in much of the province are “very receptive to ignition.”

The wildfire service’s online dashboard, as of 5 p.m. PT Wednesday, reports 161 active wildfires in B.C. Within the the last 24 hours, 16 more fires have started and 41 were declared out. In the last seven days, 136 were declared out.

There are no wildfires of note, meaning fires that are considered highly visible or a potential risk to public safety.

Officials have long been worried about a “challenging” wildfire season this year, as a months-long drought persists provincewide. 

Heat warnings are in effect across B.C., which could fuel the growth of new and existing fires, officials say. 

“With a heat wave ongoing for over two weeks, forest fuels are dry,” a situation report from the wildfire service reads.

“Hot and dry conditions are set to continue into the latter half of the week into the weekend, with widespread thunderstorms and strong winds forecast for Friday and Sunday.”

Highway 97 reopened

One new fire led to the closure of Highway 97 between Peachland and Summerland, in B.C.’s Okanagan.

For much of the day, the road was closed in both directions, but by mid-afternoon, it was open to single-lane alternating traffic.

Photos and video posted to social media show flames and smoke at the road’s edge, apparently burning up a hillside.

The B.C. Wildfire Service described the fire, now being held, as six hectare in size in an online report. It was assessed as rank one or two, “meaning a smouldering ground fire, with some visible open flame.” 

It is suspected to be human-caused. In B.C., human-caused wildfires are defined as any blaze that isn’t caused by lightning. 

Wildfire service crews and firefighters from Peachland and Summerland fought the flames, supported by aircraft.

Mt. Morro Fire

Crews are cautiously watching a new fire in Top of the World Provincial Park in the Kootenay Ranges of the Rocky Mountains.

The Mt. Morro fire is currently estimated to cover 40 hectares, and a B.C. Wildfire Service spokesperson described the blaze as showing “strong” behaviour.

“The size can change pretty regularly,” fire information officer Kim Wright said.

Wright said the fire is located in “extremely steep and inaccessible terrain.”

She said crews are using a “modified response,” meaning a combination of techniques like direct and indirect attacks, monitoring and steering it within a certain perimeter.

B.C. Parks says Top of the World Park is closed because of the fire.

Falls Creek fire

Drivers may also be able to see smoke from an out-of-control wildfire discovered Tuesday afternoon along Highway 1 north of Hope, officials say. Crews are attacking the blaze.

The fire at Falls Creek, 77 km north of Hope, B.C., and 144 km north of Vancouver, was described Wednesday by the wildfire service as just over two hectares in size.

Several fire crews and two helicopters, along with staff from CN Rail, are on scene at that fire.

The fire is believed to be human-caused. There are no evacuation orders or alerts because of the fire nor are there any access restrictions.

“Smoke from this fire is very visible from Highway 1 and the surrounding areas,” the wildfire service stated. “Please check DriveBC.ca for any questions [related] to the highway and travel.”

Evacuation near Spences Bridge

The latest evacuation order due to wildfires this summer comes from the Cook’s Ferry Indian Band north of Spences Bridge in the Interior due to a pair of out-of-control fires.

The B.C. Wildfire Service says the fires are each about 2.5 square kilometres in size and are believed to have been sparked by lightning.

In the Lower Mainland, a brush fire near the Alex Fraser Bridge closed a lane of traffic south of the Fraser River. DriveBC reported the fire extinguished just after 8 a.m. PT.

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