Canada: Emergency crews responding to wildfires in southern British Columbia as of July 18

Evacuations are ongoing due to wildfires burning in southern British Columbia as of July 18. More than 230 wildfires are burning across the province amid hot and dry weather in the region. The Teit Creek Wildfire merged into the Shetland Creek Wildfire July 17 and is now referred as the Shetland Creek Wildfire. The fire is around 8 km (5 miles) north of Spences Bridge and has burned approximately 4,989 hectares (12,328 acres). Firefighting personnel are on-site tackling the blaze. Authorities have classified the fire as out of control; further growth is likely in the coming days amid hot, dry, and breezy conditions.

Authorities issued evacuation orders for about 85 properties in the Venables Valley, affecting more than 120 people. The Cooks Ferry Indian Band has issued evacuation orders for some of its reserves near Spences Bridge and along the Thompson River. Evacuation alerts are in place across parts of the surrounding areas. An emergency services reception center is located at the community hall in Cache Creek.

The wildfires may cause additional localized transport disruptions in the region. The status of nearby roads will likely change over the coming hours and days; authorities could close routes within the wildfire complexes and evacuated communities due to fire activity and the requirements of response operations. The return of residents could disrupt traffic flows after authorities lift evacuation orders. Low visibility from smoke and possible ashfall could contribute to traffic delays and congestion in the region.