Humidity and cooler temperatures moderated fire behaviour in the Brunswick Complex near Boston Bar over the weekend.
According to the latest update from BC Wildfire Service on Sunday (July 26), the conditions are expected to persist early this week.
“Wind continues to influence fire behaviour in areas where wind direction and slope align,” BCWS.
The three wildfires that make up the Brunswick Complex remain out of control at over 35,000 hectares combined. The Anderson Creek fire is listed at 10,118 hectares, the Ainslie Creek blaze at 17,999 hectares, and the Brunswick Creek fire at 7,397 hectares.
The Anderson Creek wildfire merged with the southern edge of the Ainslie Creek wildfire on Thursday after rapid growth above Canyon Alpine.
“The Anderson Creek wildfire remains active where it has burned into the Ainslie Creek wildfire to the north, filling in patches of unburned fuel east of where the two fires merged,” BCWS said in its latest update.
BCWS said the Brunswick Creek and Anderson Creek wildfires remain active south of Boston Bar, but are not growing at a significant rate due to opposing southerly winds.
“The fires are burning on steep slopes, where ground crews cannot safely access the fire’s edge,” BCWS said.
Highway 1 remains closed for a 45.2-kilometre stretch between Spuzzum Creek Road and Jackass Summit. Drive BC advises drivers to use Highway 3 or 5 as an alternate route.
Fifteen evacuation orders and six evacuation alerts are in place across the Brunswick Complex.
Fraser Valley Regional District (FVRD) evacuation orders remain in effect for properties in Boston Bar, Scuzzy Creek FSR, Hell’s Gate, Nahatlatch and North Boothroyd, North Bend and Canyon Alpine, Fishblue Lake, and properties south of Boston Bar. Boston Bar First Nation, Thompson-Nicola Regional District, Spuzzum First Nation, and Boothroyd Indian Band have also issued evacuation orders.
For information about evacuation alerts and orders associated with the Brunswick complex fires, visit the TNRD’s Emergency Services dashboard, the FVRD’s Emergency Operations Centre webpage, and EmergencyInfoBC.
The FVRD’s Emergency Operations Centre (EOC) can be reached at 1-778-704-0400. The TNRD’s EOC can be reached at 250-377-7188 (toll-free at 1-866-377-7188).