The Brunswick Complex wildfires in the Fraser Canyon have sprawled to a combined size of over 11,000 hectares as of Wednesday morning (July 8).
According to the latest update from BC Wildfire Service, the Brunswick Creek fire has grown to 2,594 hectares and the Ainslie Creek fire has grown to 8,816 hectares.
BC Wildfire Service (BCWS) said high winds led to the extreme fire behaviour. An incident management team is managing the fires, with 160 firefighters, 58 structure protection personnel and 12 helicopters assigned.
“Hot, dry weather and windy conditions drove elevated fire behaviour and growth (on Tuesday),” BCWS said..
An operational update will be coming later this morning, BCWS said.
Highway 1 remains closed in both directions near Boston Bar due to the wildfires.
On Tuesday night (July 7), the Fraser Valley Regional District upgraded its evacuation alert for the area of Canyon Alpine to an evacuation order. The previously issued evacuation orders for the North Bend and Boston Bar areas remain in effect.
The Boothroyd Indian Band has also issued an evacuation order its community north of Boston Bar.
For more information about evacuation alerts and orders, including the properties affected, visit the Fraser Valley Regional District Emergency Operations Centre (EOC) webpage.
The Brunswick Creek fire was discovered on July 2 and created three “spot fires” in the following days during a period of extreme fire activity and strong winds, including the Ainslie Creek blaze across the river.
“A wildfire produces burning embers called firebrands. These firebrands are carried by the surface wind that fall beyond the main fire perimeter and result in spot fires,” BCWS said.
The Brunswick complex wildfires are suspected to be human caused.
More to come.