Out-of-control wildfire near Harrison Lake now 70 hectares in size
The Bear Creek wildfire is burning about 20 km north of Harrison Hot Springs. It was first spotted on Tuesday and is now mapped at 70 hectares in size.
Campers were evacuated from the area on Tuesday evening, and on Thursday, the Fraser Valley Regional District issued an evacuation alert for the North Cascade Bay area, south of the fire.
The alert covers the Cascade Peninsula Recreational Site.
3:28
Nearby wildfire has Lytton residents on edge
Officials believe the fire was caused by human activity.
Story continues below advertisement
'We are asking people to stay out of the area where active wildfire operations are ongoing,' said fire information officer Julia Caranci.
Get breaking National news
For news impacting Canada and around the world, sign up for breaking news alerts delivered directly to you when they happen. Sign up for breaking National newsletter Sign Up
By providing your email address, you have read and agree to Global News' Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy
'Specific to Harrison Lake, we ask the public to avoid and stay out of the area, north of the Cascade Peninsula and south of the Silver River.'
Two forest service roads, the Harrison East and Kookipi FSRs, have been closed due to the fire.
Their closure means the Cogburn and Bear Creek recreation sites are inaccessible.
The BC Wildfire Service has assigned two unit crews, five helicopters and a skimmer aircraft group to the fire.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Global News
an hour ago
- Global News
Special air-quality statement for northern Ontario from Prairies wildfire smoke
See more sharing options Send this page to someone via email Share this item on Twitter Share this item via WhatsApp Share this item on Facebook Wildfire smoke from the Prairies has prompted a special air-quality statement over much of northern Ontario Saturday. Environment Canada says smoke from forest fires is causing reduced visibility and poor air quality that is expected to persist into Sunday for some areas. Get daily National news Get the day's top news, political, economic, and current affairs headlines, delivered to your inbox once a day. Sign up for daily National newsletter Sign Up By providing your email address, you have read and agree to Global News' Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy The statement spans the northern part of the province stretching from North Bay and into western Quebec. The weather agency says reduced air quality can cause mild eye, nose and throat irritation while more serious but less common symptoms include chest pains and a severe cough. It recommends limiting time outdoors and rescheduling any outdoor activities or sports. The air quality in North Bay, Thunder Bay and Sault Ste. Marie on Saturday morning was rated a seven or 'high risk.'
CTV News
an hour ago
- CTV News
Evacuation orders, alerts expanded as Vancouver Island wildfire grows
From Aug. 1: B.C. firefighters are dealing with a spike in wildfire activity, after 35,000 lightning strikes recorded since Wednesday. An expanded evacuation order has been issued for dozens of properties threatened by the Wesley Ridge wildfire on Vancouver Island. The Regional District of Nanaimo issued the expanded order, along with an expanded evacuation alert, late Friday night. The properties affected are located in the Little Qualicum River Village. A list of addresses can be found in the order on the regional district's website. The Wesley Ridge fire has grown rapidly since it was discovered on the north shore of Cameron Lake July 31. As of Saturday morning, the B.C. Wildfire Service estimated it at 245 hectares in size. A total of 76 resources were assigned to the blaze, according to the BCWS. That includes firefighters and structure protection teams, five helicopters, 'skimmers and air tankers are required' and heavy equipment. An incident management team will be assuming command over the firefighting efforts on the weekend, the service said. 'Fire conditions throughout yesterday proved challenging, requiring extensive aircraft operations to hold critical flanks,' reads the Saturday morning update on the BCWS website. 'In the late afternoon, the fire spread in the northeast corner, toward Little Qualicum River Village (Estates), exhibiting aggressive fire activity and driven by locally gusty winds. Crews, heavy equipment and aviation resources continued their tactical operations overnight. Numerous fire departments from across Vancouver Island are contributing to structure defence task forces focused on urban-interface values protection in the area where needed.' The regional district said residents and visitors affected by the evacuation orders and alerts can call 250-390-6538 or visit the district's website for updates. A reception centre has been set up at the Qualicum Beach Civic Centre, located at 747 Jones St. 'Residents are asked to stay out of the area of the fire response to avoid interfering with any aerial apparatus response,' the RDN said. 'Please do not go on the lake, operate drones, enter the area on foot or stop on the highway.'
Global News
6 hours ago
- Global News
'Not out of the woods yet,' BC Wildfire Service warns of very dynamic fire situations
ens of thousands of lightning strikes across British Columbia since Wednesday have created 'a very dynamic' wildfire situation, with more than half the current fires started since the storms. Emelie Peacock, an information officer with the BC Wildfire Service, said a week of dry and hot weather combined with lightning led to many new fire starts. Since Wednesday, more than 35,000 lightning strikes were recorded across the province, Peacock said. Severe thunderstorm watches remained in place on Friday for a large swatch of the southern Interior and stretching to locations into the northeast. Above-seasonal temperatures, especially in the southern Interior, roasted many parts of the province earlier in the week, Peacock said. 'So, we've certainly seen the southern parts of the province really come on board later in the season than we're used to, but the southern parts of the province are now fully in wildfire season,' she said in an interview Friday. Story continues below advertisement The lightning storms set off 65 new fires between Thursday and Friday, with some of them burning close to communities in the Interior, in the Fraser Canyon and on the Vancouver Island. There are about 130 active wildfires burning in the province. Get breaking National news For news impacting Canada and around the world, sign up for breaking news alerts delivered directly to you when they happen. Sign up for breaking National newsletter Sign Up By providing your email address, you have read and agree to Global News' Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy While she said the cooling trend and showers 'are going to help us out,' the province isn't 'completely out of the woods yet.' 'We will likely see new wildfire starts, what we call holdover lightning fires,' said Peacock, adding the holdover fires usually take several days to become visible. Residents who were rushed out of their homes by a wildfire near Peachland on Wednesday were allowed to return home. The Central Okanagan Emergency Operations Centre said those at 118 properties were allowed to go home on Friday, a day after residents of about 380 homes were allowed to return. The centre said those in the 118 homes must remain on evacuation alert, although all alerts had been lifted for another 490 properties. The BC Wildfire Service said the blaze near Peachland has been classified as being held and is no longer out of control. The Nanaimo Regional District on Vancouver Island declared a state of local emergency because of wildfire burning on the north banks of Cameron Lake, about 60 kilometres from the City of Nanaimo. Story continues below advertisement Homes on the north side of the lake have been ordered evacuated, while other nearby properties have been put on evacuation alert. The district said 289 properties were put on evacuation alert, while a few dozen were evacuated Thursday. Even more were evacuated late at night, as the regional district expanded an evacuation order in the Little Qualicum River Village area. BC Emergency Alert says a reception centre has been set up in Qualicum Beach, a town 15 kilometres away from Cameron Lake. More than 40 firefighters and helicopters are working on the fire, and Peacock said Highway 4 is still open and unaffected. A wildfire south of Lytton, B.C., has been measured at just over 12-square kilometres in size and an evacuation order issued by the Lytton First Nation remains in place because of the blaze. The wildfire service says the fire is highly visible from Highway 1, and motorists are asked to use extra caution and be aware of their surroundings while passing through. While a cooling trend was coming for the province over the long weekend, Peacock said thunderstorm activity will continue in the North, and they will likely bring dry lightning. Peacock said people who want to get out and enjoy the long weekend are encouraged to check wildfire and driving information before they leave, as the wildfire situation is 'very dynamic, and road conditions can change very quickly.'
