UPDATE 11 p.m.
The new fire south of Boston Bar discovered on Tuesday (July 21) has grown to 1,000 hectares, and the Fraser Valley Regional District has expanded evacuation orders and alerts in the area.
The fire — V11090 — continues to spread rapidly.
An evacuation order has been issued for properties south of Boston Bar on the east side of the river, on Scuzzy Creek FSR on the west side of the river, and for Hell’s Gate on Highway 1. An evacuation alert has been issued for properties south of Hell’s Gate down to Alexandra Bridge.
For information about the properties affected, go to the Fraser Valley Regional District website.
Anyone who is still in the area and is trying to evacuate is being directed to head north on Highway 1. The highway is closed to all other traffic.
ORIGINAL STORY
The Fraser Valley Regional District (FVRD) has reported that a new wildfire has ignited south of Boston Bar in the Fraser Canyon, and is spreading quickly in strong winds.
BC Wildfire Service says that the fire was discovered on Tuesday (July 21). As of 6:45 p.m. on July 21 its size was estimated at 300 hectares. The cause of the fire is under investigation.
Shortly after 5 p.m. on Tuesday, the FVRD issued a notice stating that all residents of the area who have not already evacuated must do so immediately.
“For your safety, residents who have remained in the community MUST LEAVE NOW,” read the notice. “You are in danger and need to evacuate now.
“Highway 1 will be closing immediately and you must drive northbound on Highway 1.”
Evacuees are being directed to the McArthur Island Sports Centre (1665 Island Parkway) in Kamloops.
Anyone needing assistance can call the FVRD Emergency Operations Centre call centre at 778-704-0400. Information can also be found on the FVRD website.
The fire — V11090 — is part of the Brunswick Creek complex. The Brunswick Creek wildfire was discovered on July 2, and as of July 21 was estimated at 5,389 hectares. It has prompted evacuation orders for 450 properties in the Fraser Valley Regional District in the Boston Bar, Nahatlatch, North Boothroyd, North Bend, Canyon Alpine, and Fishblue Lake areas. Boston Bar First Nation and Boothroyd Indian Band have also issued evacuation orders.
The Ainslie Creek wildfire was discovered on July 4, and as of July 21 was estimated at 16,499 hectares.
BC Wildfire Service has responded to the fires with an incident management team and 24-hour operations that include ground crews, structure protection personnel, and helicopters.
With files from Barbara Roden and Jessica Peters.