What you need to know about B.C. wildfires on Aug. 6

What you need to know about B.C. wildfires on Aug. 6

A wildfire broke out in Metro Vancouver, in Belcarra Regional Park, on Wednesday afternoon

Metro Vancouver wildfire spotted

A wildfire was discovered late Wednesday afternoon, burning roughly one kilometre southeast of Sasamat Lake's White Pine Beach in Metro Vancouver's Belcarra Regional Park.

The fire grew quickly to cover an area of 1.5 hectares, according to the B.C. Wildfire Service's latest update.

It prompted tactical evacuations of two properties on Fern Drive, in the nearby Village of Anmore. The village issued an evacuation alert affecting roughly 35 properties at 7:30 p.m. Wednesday.

At this time, the fire is suspected to have been caused by human activity.

First responders were not able to immediately access the fire on the ground due to live electric wires in the area, and instead used three helicopters to dump water on the blaze.

Once B.C. Hydro cut the power off to its infrastructure in the area later Wednesday evening, ground crews were able to directly combat the wildfire, according to Metro Vancouver incident commander Brant Arnold-Smith.

"We are very fortunate that the conditions presently are not windy. It's advantageous for our crews. It's also a lot safer for our crews," he said on Wednesday evening.

By Wednesday evening, Arnold-Smith said 40 firefighters were involved in the firefighting effort.

Air quality warnings across Lower Mainland

On Wednesday, air quality warnings were issued for various regions across the Lower Mainland.

An orange warning — indicating very high health risk — covered the eastern Fraser Valley.

In the rest of Metro Vancouver and the central Fraser Valley, a yellow warning was issued, which indicates a high health risk.

In a statement, Metro Vancouver said the warnings are "due to elevated levels of fine particulate matter from wildfire smoke from the South Cariboo, the [southern] Interior, and the complex of wildfires near Boston Bar in the Fraser Canyon."

It added that Metro Vancouver staff will continue to monitor the conditions, as weather and wildfire activity can "rapidly change smoke concentrations."

The Pear Lake wildfire is still the largest currently burning in B.C., at roughly 1,269 square kilometres.

The Thompson-Nicola Regional District says about 120 properties, not including ones in the Village of Clinton, suffered structural loss due to the fire.

Further southeast, near Vernon, the Bradley Creek wildfire covered an area of 28.52 square kilometres.

It has caused at least 200 homes on the Okanagan Indian Band's reserves to be destroyed, according to preliminary estimates from the band.

The Brunswick Creek wildfire is roughly 78 square kilometres in size, burning in B.C.'s Fraser Canyon near Boston Bar.

Evacuees see destruction left behind by B.C.'s Bradley Creek wildfire

According to DriveBC, several major routes remain closed because of wildfire activity.

Highway 1 is closed between Yale and south of Boston Bar at Uztlius Creek Forest Service Road, and there is no estimated time of reopening. Drivers are being directed to use Highway 3 or Highway 5.

The Big Bar Reaction Ferry, which runs across the Fraser River 72 kilometres west of Clinton, is not currently operating due to wildfires in the area.

Highway 97 is closed through Clinton, for a 60-kilometre stretch between Loon Lake Road and 76 Mile Frontage Road. Traffic is being detoured using Highway 1 through Kamloops, then to Highway 5 and Highway 24. Big Bar Road is also closed between Jesmond Road and Highway 97.

Weather conditions expected to spark new wildfires, accelerate fire growth, B.C. Wildfire Service says

Westside Road along Okanagan Lake is closed between Shelter Cove and Highway 97 north, cutting off a key route for residents to the west of Okanagan Lake. The road is open as far as Shelter Cove, with Highway 97 serving as the alternate route.

Highway 95A near Kimberley is closed in both directions between Thomason Road and the Highway 93/95 Junction.

Toward the U.S. border, Silver Skagit Road is closed south of Flood Hope Road to the Canada-U.S. border because of the Hozomeen Mountain wildfire. Silver Lake remains open, but Ross Lake Campground and Skagit Valley Provincial Park are closed.

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Arden McLeod, from Vancouver, is an associate producer with CBC News. He has a passion for community storytelling, local news, and reflecting the values of B.C. He graduated from the British Columbia Institute of Technology's broadcast and online journalism program. You can reach him at Arden.McLeod@cbc.ca.