B.C. braces for more wildfire activity with thunderstorms in the forecast
A number of wildfires have emerged along major highways in British Columbia as the province swelters in a second heat wave this month and thunderstorms and winds are in the forecast.
The BC Wildfire Service said Wednesday that a new blaze is burning three kilometres south of Peachland, in the Okanagan, that shut down Highway 97 to vehicle traffic for hours.
Firefighters say the blaze on the west side of the highway reached about one hectare in size and is likely humancaused.
The fire is visible from the highway, and two wildfire crews and a helicopter have been activated alongside local fire departments from Peachland and Summerland.
“There are structures on the eastern side of Highway 97,” the wildfire service said in its social media post about the fire on Wednesday. “However, no structures are currently threatened by this wildfire.”
A wildfire next to Highway 1 east of Cache Creek was also discovered Wednesday, prompting single-lane alternating traffic on that stretch of highway.
Late Tuesday, crews also responded to a wildfire along another stretch of Highway 1 about 16 kilometres north of Boston Bar burning on the banks of the Fraser River near some railroad tracks.
The service said two attack crews, a response officer and helicopter support were on the scene of the blaze along with Canadian National Railway staff, and the 2.2-hectare blaze was being held as of Wednesday.
The BC Wildfire Service said in its bulletin that storms are expected over eastern B.C. up to the northern Rockies and winds are forecast to pick up across the province later this week, carrying the potential to fan the flames of nearly 160 current wildfires.