BOSTON BAR, B.C. — An out-of-control wildfire burning in British Columbia’s Fraser Canyon has prompted a fresh round of mandatory evacuations. The Boston Bar First Nation has issued an immediate evacuation order for everyone living in IR 2 Kopchitchin, directing residents to leave the area without delay.
This latest directive joins three existing evacuation orders that remain firmly in place for the Boston Bar area, the North Bend community and surrounding area, and the Boothroyd Indian Band community. Additionally, an evacuation alert remains active for the broader Boston Bar area, meaning residents must be packed and prepared to flee at a moment’s notice.
Boston Bar is located roughly 55 kilometers north of Hope, situated along the Fraser River and Highway 1.
Aerial Operations Resume Amid Tough Conditions
The B.C. Wildfire Service (BCWS) was finally able to resume aerial firefighting operations on Tuesday after heavy smoke and poor visibility had temporarily grounded aircraft over the weekend.
However, a recent tactical assessment revealed that the primary blaze—named the Brunswick Creek wildfire—has expanded significantly, now covering 18 square kilometers (1,800 hectares) and remaining entirely out of control since it was first discovered on July 2.
Furthermore, fire information officer Julia Caranci confirmed that a secondary spot fire across the river at nearby Ainslie Creek has also blown up to 6.95 square kilometers (695 hectares) and is burning out of control.
“We are going to face some challenges and likely some growth in those two fires over the next couple of days while we see more challenging conditions,” Caranci warned. “We are hopefully going to get a little bit of a cool-down, maybe some slightly better conditions later in the week, and then we may see the heat come back again.”
Highway 1 Closed; Motorists Urged Not to Stop
The rapid growth of the blazes has forced authorities to close a crucial 10.5-kilometer stretch of Highway 1 (the Trans-Canada Highway) between Boston Bar Station Road and Ainslie Road North.
Officials are expressing serious safety concerns regarding travelers. Caranci strongly urged motorists to stay completely clear of the active wildfire zone and strictly prohibited pulling over onto the shoulders to take photographs or videos.
“Just stay out of that active wildfire area and allow us to do our work,” she stated. “We want to protect the safety of the public as well. It’s just not safe for them to be pulling over there.”
Air Quality Alerts Expanded
As dense plumes of smoke continue to blanket the region, Environment Canada has issued stringent air quality warnings for the eastern Fraser Valley. Similar air quality alerts are also in effect for areas north and south of the Fraser Canyon, as well as North Harrison Lake.
According to the BCWS online situation database, the fire has been classified as human-caused. This designation is applied to any wildfire that is verified to have been sparked by human activity or negligence rather than natural lightning strikes.
