Overview
- The lightning that struck Friday sparked roughly 100 new blazes and pushed the province’s active wildfire tally past 100 by Saturday, according to the BC Wildfire Service.
- The Brunswick complex near Boston Bar has grown to more than 200 square kilometres, destroyed multiple structures and forced the town site to evacuate.
- The Fiftynine Creek fire near Big Bar Lake grew rapidly to about 40 square kilometres and prompted an evacuation order for 131 properties and the park campground.
- More than 500 wildland firefighters have been deployed across the province as crews prioritize protecting homes and critical access routes while direct attack is limited by steep terrain and shifting winds.
- Officials recorded about 4,000 lightning strikes that drove the spike, and with forecasts for returning heat, drying and further lightning there is a high risk of more ignitions, widespread displacement and continued smoke impacts to communities and businesses.