B.C. police investigate possible arson in brush fires as wildfires force evacuations
RCMP are investigating suspicious fires across B.C.'s Shuswap region and Metro Vancouver. The Pear Lake wildfire, over 1,300 square kilometres, remains out of control.
The day's top stories, food & events — every morning at 7. Unsubscribe anytime.
Police across British Columbia are investigating a series of suspicious fires as the province battles massive out-of-control wildfires that have destroyed hundreds of homes and forced thousands to evacuate.
The Columbia Shuswap Regional District says RCMP are investigating after residents reported three fires in a ditch on Squilax Anglemont Road around 5:30 p.m. Wednesday. The fires were spaced about 100 metres apart. As crews were dispatched, calls came in about two more fires in the nearby Anglemont Estates area. All five fires were brought under control, and crews conducted "community tactical patrols" throughout the night.
Coquitlam RCMP are asking for witnesses or video of Belcarra Regional Park on Wednesday, where the cause of a wildfire is being investigated. That fire triggered this season's first evacuation alerts for Metro Vancouver in the village of Anmore, roughly 30 kilometres east of Vancouver. Police want anyone in the area between 1 p.m. and 4 p.m. Wednesday with video footage to contact them.
RCMP in Kelowna are also investigating intentionally set fires at Black Mountain near Gopher Creek Linear Park. Witnesses told police the fires were close to each other, and residents and park users quickly extinguished them.
B.C.'s Interior has been hardest hit. An out-of-control wildfire near Clinton forced a fresh round of evacuation orders and alerts overnight. More than 40 additional properties southeast of the massive Pear Lake wildfire, which exceeds 1,300 square kilometres, have been ordered to evacuate. Evacuation alerts have also been issued near Marble Canyon Park and Pavilion Lake due to the same fire.
The BC Wildfire Service lists five out-of-control wildfires of note. About 100 active wildfires are burning in B.C., with roughly half out of control. More than 1,400 personnel are battling the blazes. Firefighters from Australia and New Zealand — 41 personnel — have been deployed to B.C., while 200 personnel from Mexico arrived Thursday.
By the numbers
How large is the Pear Lake wildfire?
The Pear Lake wildfire exceeds 1,300 square kilometres and remains out of control.
How many suspicious fires were reported on Squilax Anglemont Road on Wednesday, August 6, 2026?
Five fires were reported on Squilax Anglemont Road in the Columbia Shuswap Regional District on Wednesday, August 5, 2026—three in a ditch around 5:30 p.m. and two more in the nearby Anglemont Estates area.
How many active wildfires are burning in B.C.?
About 100 active wildfires are burning in B.C., with roughly half out of control.
How many firefighters from other countries have been deployed to B.C.?
Forty-one personnel from Australia and New Zealand have been deployed to B.C., and 200 personnel from Mexico arrived on Thursday, August 6, 2026.
