Officials in Pemberton, British Columbia, have ordered the evacuation of an area south of the town due to a fast-spreading wildfire. The Signal Hill fire was first detected on Wednesday afternoon and has already grown to cover 10 hectares of land, located approximately five kilometers away from Highway 99. The evacuation order specifically includes One Mile Lake Park to ensure a safe environment for firefighting crews.
The fire is suspected to be human-caused rather than ignited by lightning. The British Columbia Wildfire Service (BCWS) has mobilized a team of 20 personnel, along with a helicopter, an air tanker, and a skimmer group to combat the blaze. This fire is one of eleven new wildfires that have erupted across the province within the last 24 hours.
Another fire near the Coquihalla Highway, about 25 kilometers north of Hope, has also required attention from firefighting crews. Despite being visible to passing drivers, this fire does not pose an immediate threat to structures or critical infrastructure.
Meanwhile, the Brunswick complex, consisting of the Brunswick Creek and Ainslie Creek wildfires, totaling approximately 194 square kilometers (19,400 hectares), continues to be a challenge for wildfire crews. Although the fires’ size has not significantly increased in recent days, the BCWS has noted heightened fire activity due to rising temperatures. Evacuation orders and alerts remain in effect in the vicinity of the Brunswick complex.
The BCWS has expressed concerns about the potential for dry lightning strikes in various regions of British Columbia, accompanied by ongoing drought conditions and strong winds. These conditions could lead to a significant wildfire event, particularly in the western Cariboo region and the southern and southeast interior of the province. Additionally, Environment Canada has issued heat warnings for several areas, forecasting high temperatures and low precipitation, raising further concerns about fire risk.
As a precautionary measure, a campfire ban is scheduled to be implemented in most of the Coastal Fire Centre, with existing restrictions on larger fires in other parts of the province. Residents are urged to report any new fires immediately to the authorities to help prevent further wildfire incidents.