Canada: Emergency crews responding to wildfires in southern British Columbia as of July 21 /update 1

Evacuations are ongoing due to wildfires burning in southern British Columbia as of July 21. Hundreds of wildfires are burning across the province. Further wildfire growth is likely in the coming days amid hot, dry, and breezy conditions.

The Teit Creek Wildfire merged into the Shetland Creek Wildfire July 17 and is now referred to as the Shetland Creek Wildfire. The fire is around 8 km (5 miles) north of Spences Bridge and has burned approximately 14,830 hectares (36,645 acres). Authorities issued evacuation orders for about 88 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. Highway 1 is closed in both directions to provide access for first responders and ensure public safety. Some structures in Venables Valley have been destroyed; officials have been unable to access the area to assess specific numbers, but preliminary estimates put the number of structures destroyed at less than 10.

The Aylwin Creek and Komonko Creek wildfires are burning on either side of the highway south of Silverton and north of Slocan. The Aylwin Creek Wildfire has burned approximately 121 hectares (299 acres), while the Komonko Creek Wildfire has burned approximately 534 hectares (1,320 acres). The Regional District of Central Kootenay has ordered the evacuation of 107 properties on the east side of Slocan Lake, while the entire village of Silverton is on an evacuation alert. A stretch of Highway 6 near the village of Silverton is closed.

The Antler Creek Wildfire has burned approximately 3,162 hectares (7,813 acres). Authorities have issued evacuation orders for the District of Wells, Barkerville Area, Bowron Lakes Community, and the west side of the Bowron Lakes chain. An evacuee reception center is located at the Quesnel and District Arts and Recreation Centre. The Cariboo Regional District declared a state of local emergency.

The River Valley Wildfire is burning within the city limits of Williams Lake and has burned approximately 20 hectares (50 acres). Authorities have issued evacuation alerts for properties from the intersection at Highway 20 and Mackenzie Avenue to the Jackpine Sawmill Access Road on Mackenzie Avenue near Atlantic Power’s Williams Lake plant as well as Country Club Boulevard, Fairview Drive, Tolko’s Lakeview Mill, Woodland Drive, and all Westridge Drive properties. A state of local emergency is in place.

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.