Wildfires near Boston Bar send smoke across Okanagan skies
The Brunswick Creek fire has grown to 100 hectares and is burning out of control, with evacuation alerts issued for nearby properties.
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Smoke from two wildfires burning north of Boston Bar filled Okanagan skies Saturday evening, with residents reporting a large plume visible above Westside Road.
The Brunswick Creek fire, first reported on July 2, is now estimated at 100 hectares and is burning out of control. The Fraser Valley Regional District issued an evacuation alert for approximately four properties on Chaumox Road, north of North Bend in Electoral Area A.
According to the BC Wildfire Service, the Boston Bar Fire Department, three initial attack crews, two unit crews, and two response officers are on scene, supported by three helicopters and heavy equipment. The fire is burning at a rank 1-2, which the service describes as a low smouldering ground fire to a low-vigour surface blaze.
Strong wind gusts have worsened the fire's behaviour and increased smoke in the area. Highway 1 is not currently affected. A second, smaller wildfire sparked on Saturday north of the Brunswick Creek fire on the east side of Highway 1; the lightning-caused blaze is estimated at 0.3 hectares with no evacuation alerts or orders associated with it.
