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┬аto 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.
- 19 daily heat records were broken on Tuesday, including a high of 42.2 C in Lytton, according to Environment Canada.
While scorching temperatures were expected to┬аreach their climax Tuesday in a prolonged heat wave in southern┬аBritish Columbia, the B.C. Wildfire Service (BCWS) says the greatest wildfire┬аrisk won’t come until later this week.
Fire information officer Sarah Budd says a cold front from the┬аnorthwest due Thursday will hit the high-pressure system┬аbringing the current heat, creating strong winds, dry lightning and a greater potential┬аfor new fire starts.
Budd says it comes as the heat wave that began Sunday and swept┬аacross the southern half of the province is already challenging┬аfirefighting efforts on active blazes.
Another 19 daily temperature records were broken on Tuesday, according to Environment Canada,┬аincluding a countrywide high mark of 42.2 C in Lytton.┬а
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┬аKamloops┬аmark 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┬аgo 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┬аcooler on Friday. “So, it’s kind of a return to normal conditions,” he said.
More stories on wildfires and┬аheat:
But that cooling trend and associated winds and lightning┬аare┬аtroubling for those on the frontline of B.C.’s┬аworst wildfire season to date in┬аterms of area burned, with more than 1,700 wildfires charring about┬а16,000 square kilometres so far this year.
Budd says the BCWS is prepared for the Kamloops and Southeast┬аfire centres to be the most affected by Thursday’s forecast,┬аboth for new starts and an increase in fire activity on existing┬аwildfires.
Roughly 370 wildfires are burning in the province, 145 are┬аconsidered out of control and 11 are classified as fires of note,┬аmeaning they are highly visible or threaten people or property.
New evacuation orders, alerts
Late Tuesday, the Regional District of Okanagan-Similkameen┬аissued an evacuation order for 13 properties in Electoral Area B┬аand Electoral Area G┬аalong the Ashnola River in Cathedral┬аProvincial Park, including the Cathedral Lakes Lodge and in the Snowy┬аProtected Area.
They were triggered by the seven-square-kilometre Crater Creek┬аwildfire and the five-square-kilometre Gillanders Creek wildfire.
Approximately 150 people┬аhave been told to shelter in place at the lodge, as officials plan how to safely get them out тАФ “whether they can get us down via vehicle or if they’ll have to send in helicopter,” said┬аEmma Roberts from the lodge.
Officials say an emergency support services reception centre has┬аbeen activated at the Village of Keremeos Victory Hall.
The same two blazes also prompted an evacuation alert for 74 properties in the area along the Similkameen River┬аin Electoral Area G,┬аfrom Keremeos west following Highway 3 for 13 kilometres.
Also on Tuesday, the Casper Creek wildfire┬аburning west of Lillooet┬аgrew to 4.6 square kilometres and forced further evaucation orders.
Early Wednesday morning the Squamish-Lillooet Regional District issued an evacuation order for nine properties and RCMP officers went door to door alerting affected residents to leave.
Evacuation alerts were also issued for all properties from north of Connel Creek to Seton Portage┬аdue to the fire, which has been burning since July 11.
The B.C. Wildfire Service says strong winds pushed the fire across Mission Mountain Road noting the road has now been closed.
Anyone┬аplaced┬аunder┬аan┬аevacuation┬аorder┬аshould┬аleave┬аthe┬аarea┬аimmediately.┬а
Evacuation┬аcentres┬аhave┬аbeen┬аset┬аup┬аthroughout┬аthe┬аprovince┬аto┬аassist┬аanyone┬аevacuating┬аfrom a┬аcommunity┬аunder┬аthreat┬аfrom a┬аwildfire.
To┬аfind┬аthe┬аcentre┬аclosest┬аto┬аyou,┬аvisit┬аthe┬аEmergencyInfoBC
