BC Wildfire Service Warns Interior Wildfire Activity Could Last Until Winter

The BC Wildfire Service is warning Thompson-Nicola and Fraser Canyon residents that wildfire activity could continue until winter because of extreme drought conditions, the Merritt Herald reported (8-28-26).

The Ainslee Creek wildfire, which has been burning out of control since it was sparked near Boston Bar on July 4, remains at nearly 68,000 hectares (168,032 acres). Six evacuation alerts and two evacuation orders remain in effect in surrounding areas.

Although the weekend forecast includes up to 5 mm of rain on Saturday, the BC Wildfire Service said there is no “fire-ending” rain in the forecast.

“Fire activity will likely occur in the interior of the wildfire perimeter until winter due to the extreme drought conditions across most of the trees and soil this wildfire is burning in,” said BC Wildfire Service, adding that fire behavior specialists conducting wood and soil sampling are having difficulty using their equipment because conditions are so dry that instruments are struggling to calculate moisture content.

This week, fire behavior on the Ainslee Creek wildfire is expected to mostly remain at Rank 1 and Rank 2, indicating smoldering ground fire and low-level surface fire.