As of Sunday morning (Aug. 2), no new evacuation orders or alerts have been issued in response to the Ainslie Creek and Brunswick Creek wildfires burning in the Fraser Canyon near Boston Bar.
The Brunswick Creek wildfire, discovered on July 2, is estimated at 7,483 hectares. The Ainslie Creek wildfire, discovered on July 4, is estimated at 39,819 hectares. Both fires are suspected to have been human-caused.
On Saturday, the Fraser Valley Regional District (FVRD) issued an evacuation order for the area along Highway 1 from Alexandra Lodge to Sawmill Creek. The area was previously under evacuation alert.
The FVRD also issued a new evacuation alert on Saturday for the area from Sawmill Creek to Dogwood Valley. The alert covers more than 400 addressed properties.
The Brunswick Creek fire is showing most activity on the southern flank, with minimal activity at the north end.
On the north flank, crews are continuing to do infrared scanning, using those maps to locate and extinguish hot spots near values and along the fire perimeter. They are working to achieve full extinguishment of hot spots to ensure that containment lines hold.
On the southern flank, crews are demobilizing fire-affected equipment and focusing on hot spot suppression and structure protection in the Scuzzy Creek drainage. Fallers are continuing to assess and remove danger trees to maintain safe access for crews along roads and highways. Crews are also working closely with BC Hydro, TELUS, CN, CPKC, and the Ministry of Transportation and Transit to restore utilities and maintain safe worksites.
Highway 1 remains closed from Toll Road (Yale) to Jackass Summit. There is significant risk on the highway south of Boston Bar from downed power lines, rock debris, and compromised trees falling downslope. The increase in wind on Saturday furthered these hazards, with multiple locations between China Bar and Hell’s Gate experiencing rolling debris and further downed power lines.
On its southern flank, the Ainslie Creek wildfire saw wind gusts of 50 to 70 km/hr on Saturday. Localized outflow winds on Sunday and Monday that could funnel through valleys might contribute to increased fire behaviour, and spread along the southern perimeter of the fire towards Hell’s Gate.
There is minimal fire activity on the north end and west sides of the Ainslie Creek wildfire in the Fraser Canyon area.
Structure protection crews are working south of the fire’s perimeter in the valley and in Spuzzum to protect values in surrounding communities. In Boston Bar there has been 100 feet of extinguishment into the fire’s edge, and around Canyon Alpine and to the north, crews continue to work towards 100 feet extinguishment in areas near values.
The northeasternmost edge of the fire is currently estimated to be approximately 13-14 kilometres southwest of Highway 8.
In the last 48 hours there has been minimal growth to the northwest. As access into the eastern flank of this fire is very difficult by land or air, limited direct attack options are viable based on where the fire is currently burning. Geotechnical staff are working to install a temporary bridge and crossings into this area to allow for direct attack opportunities.
BC Wildfire Service is coordinating with partners to ensure safe access for crews and motorists before the highway reopens. An estimated date/time of reopening has not been determined. For information about highway closures, visit DriveBC.
For information about the evacuation orders and alerts issued by the FVRD, go to their Emergency Operations Centre page. For information about other evacuation orders and alerts issued for the Brunswick Creek and Ainslie Creek fires, go to EmergencyInfoBC.
For information about all wildfires currently burning in the province, visit the BC Wildfire Service website.