Wind fans flames of wildfires across B.C., thousands on evacuation order

More than 100 wildfires are burning across British Columbia, with wind fanning flames across drought-stricken areas Wednesday. The largest active wildfire in the province, the Pear Lake fire near Clinton, has grown to about 669 square kilometres and destroyed several properties.

Six evacuation orders are in place for surrounding areas, issued by Stswecem'c Xget'tem First Nation, the Village of Clinton, Whispering Pines/Clinton and the Thompson-Nicola Regional District. A total of 157 firefighters, 71 pieces of heavy equipment, and 201 structure protection personnel are responding to the fire. Nineteen helicopters are assigned to the Big Bar fire complex, which includes wildfires at Pear Lake, Rim Lake and French Bar Creek.

The B.C. Wildfire Service warned Wednesday's conditions—light to moderate southwesterly upper flow and sunny skies—will introduce a warming and drying trend. With fuels remaining heavily impacted by drought, there is "potential for heightened fire behaviour tomorrow with the underlying drought conditions, especially as sunny conditions prevail."

Since April, 797 wildfires have burned roughly 2,210 square kilometres provincewide. The Cariboo Fire Centre, where the Pear Lake fire is situated, accounts for about 1,130 square kilometres burned during that period. As of 1 p.m. Wednesday, 129 wildfires were burning across the province. The service reported 19 wildfires were declared out over the previous 24 hours, while 16 new fires started.

Stswecem'c Xget'tem First Nation, about 40 kilometres southwest of Williams Lake, is surrounded by wildfires, including the Pear Lake fire. Kukpi7 Hank Adams, chief of Stswecem'c Xget'tem First Nation, said about 100 members are affected by evacuation orders and alerts. Most residents have left for Williams Lake, 100 Mile House or Kamloops. "This is the first time we've had to actually evacuate the whole community," Adams said's Radio West. He said leaving also carries a sense of loss. "Our language is formed from there. Our culture, our values, they're all a part of it and they're all interconnected with it. That's everything they've known and stewarded for thousands of years."