Province-wide wildfires blanket B.C. communities in smoke

More than 60 new wildfires have sprung up across British Columbia over the weekend, putting people out of their homes or on evacuation alert, resulting in several communities declaring states of emergency.

Smoke from the fires cast an early morning haze over Vancouver on Sunday.

Kootenay evacuation orders

Three of the new fires are in the Kootenays in southeastern B.C., where an evacuation alert has been issued for about 350 homes along Highway 3A between Sitkum Creek and Willow Point. The 150-hectare fire is visible from the town of Nelson.

Two other fires are also burning in the Kootenays

An evacuation order affecting about 150 people In Kragmont has been issued for the 200-hectare Baynes Lake wildfire near Highway 93 southeast of Cranbrook.

A smaller 50-hectare fire, the Spilmacheen wildfire, is burning north of Highway 95 between Harrogate and Brisco.

Evacuation near Kelowna

An evacuation order in effect for the Huckleberry fire burning in Joe rich east of Kelowna has now been lifted for all but 30 properties. That fire, which had been at 80 hectares, is now completely contained.

The small town of Port Hardy on Vancouver Island continues to fight a 16-hectare wildfire burning just 1.5 kilometres from the town and less than 300 metres from some homes in the area.

An evacuation order there affects about 100 homes along Mayors Way and Upper Carnarvon down to Park Drive. The town also declared a local state of emergency. The fire is being fought by ground crews and from the air, officials said.

Residents are being asked to restrict water use to only what is essential.

Boulder Creek wildfire

An evacuation order was also issued midday Saturday for two pumice mines, one of which is no longer operational due to the Boulder Creek wildfire burning 23 kilometres northwest of Pemberton. A local state of emergency was also declared.

The 500-hectare, lightning-caused fire is burning in steep terrain and heavy timber, and none of it is contained, officials reported. It is still in a remote area and no residences or agricultural properties are affected by the evacuation order.

Wildfire near Ashcroft

A 28-hectare wildfire temporarily shut down Highway 1 near Ashcroft Saturday.

Thirty-one firefighters were deployed to the blaze in the Venables Valley south of Ashcroft and west of Highway 1. One helicopter and three air tankers are working that fire. That fire is now completely contained.

The B.C. Wildfire Management Branch reported Saturday that attendees to a nearby music festival had been moved out of the area as a precaution.

Province-wide fire ban

Most of the province has now been declared an extreme fire risk and a province-wide ban on all fires and campfires is in effect.

A Level 4 drought rating is in effect for southern Vancouver Island and the Gulf Islands, meaning water supplies are insufficient to meet the needs of communities and ecosystems.

Even traditionally moist Coastal B.C. is at Level 2 and 3 drought conditions on the four-stage drought rating, which means residents are required to try to cut water use by another 20 per cent over regular reductions.

There are more than 70 wildfires greater than 10 hectares burning in B.C., and at least 171 total active wildfires.

B.C. wildfires of note