Brunswick Creek Wildfire Grows as Evacuations Expand in BC

Environment Canada issued an air quality warning Monday for the area around Boston Bar, BC, where a wildfire is burning with minimal containment for its fifth day, CBC News reported (7-7-26).

The Brunswick Creek wildfire, about 55 kilometers north of Hope, was estimated at 12.3 square kilometers, or 1,230 hectares, on Monday and was burning in steep terrain, according to the BC Wildfire Service (BCWS).

BCWS Fire Information Officer Sam Bellion said embers from the fire had sparked three new spot fires. Two were under control, while the third had grown to 73 hectares.

“Relative humidity continues to drop today and smoky skies are going to prevail in the Fraser Canyon area. This area is going to stay warm and dry throughout the week,” Bellion said. “We can expect elevated winds on Tuesday and Wednesday with potential gusting of up to 40–50 kilometers per hour (24–31 mph).”

About 146 properties in the North Bend community and surrounding area have been under evacuation order since Saturday, while the Boothroyd Indian Band issued an evacuation order for its community, north of Boston Bar, on Sunday. Nearly 260 properties in Boston Bar are under evacuation alert, though many do not contain structures, according to the Fraser Valley Regional District.

BCWS said the fire was human-caused, a category used for any wildfire not sparked by lightning.