Increased fire activity driven by warm, dry weather at Brunswick Complex wildfires

UPDATE: 10:17 p.m. The BC Wildfire Service says warm, dry weather increased fire behaviour at two wildfires burning near Boston Bar on Tuesday.

Increased fire activity driven by warm, dry weather at Brunswick Complex wildfires Increased activity at fires UPDATE: 10:17 p.m. The BC Wildfire Service says warm, dry weather increased fire behaviour at two wildfires burning near Boston Bar on Tuesday. The Brunswick Complex includes the 16,197-hectare Ainslie Creek wildfire and the 3,026-hectare Brunswick Creek wildfire.

The fires are burning on each side of the Fraser River. BCWS said increased fire activity was observed at both wildfires on Tuesday, driven by weather conditions that could become more challenging through the week. “Tomorrow will also be warm and dry, and we can expect to continue to see elevated fire behaviour and activity,” BCWS said.

Thursday is expected to bring dry lightning and stronger winds. “During this time, we can expect to see elevated fire behaviour and our priority will be to ensure the safety of our crews and all personnel working on the fires within the complex,” BCWS said. More than 300 firefighters are assigned to the wildfires, assisted by 65 structure protection personnel, helicopters and heavy equipment.

At the Ainslie Creek wildfire burning east of the Fraser River, BCWS said ground crews have worked to mop up and patrol along Highway 1, ensuring the highway remains open and any spot fires are doused. Crews are “making good progress” with mop up and patrol activities occurring near the Boothroyd community to the north. BCWS said a Rapattack crew is installing helipads in areas previously inaccessible to ground crews, opening up access to build containment.

Crews are also extending hose lays on the northeast perimeter of the fire. “On the east side of the fire, structure protection triage and planning continues along the Highway 8 corridor,” BCWS said. For the Brunswick Creek wildfire to the west, crews are continuing mop up and patrol around structures and cultural values and dousing hot spots.

“Crews are tying in a containment line to connect north with the 2023 Kookipi Creek burn scar, which is assisting to check further growth to the north,” BCWS said. Crews are directly attacking the fire along the east flank, and are continuing to work to halt fire progression to the south. “Bucketing helicopters — including night-vision equipped helicopters — are actioning the southeast flank of this fire during the day and well into the night,” BCWS said.

“Yesterday, our night-vision helicopter dropped approximately 150,000 gallons of water onto that portion of the fire.” BCWS said travellers should check DriveBC before heading along Highway 1, as lane closures and traffic interruptions are ongoing. Drivers should expect fire crews and heavy equipment, and are asked not to stop in the wildfire zone.

UPDATE: 3:50 p.m. Nearly 300 evacuees are receiving support as the out-of-control Brunswick Complex wildfires continue burning near Boston Bar.

The complex includes the 16,197-hectare Ainslie Creek wildfire and the 3,026-hectare Brunswick Creek wildfire, according to the latest BC Wildfire Service update. During a provincial briefing Tuesday, Emergency Management Minister Kelly Greene said seven of the eight evacuation orders currently in place in B.C. are related to the Brunswick Complex. More than 230 properties are under evacuation order and nearly 300 are under evacuation alert in the Boston Bar area.

About 280 evacuees are receiving Emergency Support Services. Greene said the province is working closely with local governments and First Nations to support residents forced from their homes. On the Ainslie Creek fire, a rapattack crew is now on site, placing helipads in areas previously inaccessible to ground crews.

Rapattack crews are trained to rappel from helicopters into areas that are difficult to reach by foot or vehicle. Along Highway 1, ground crews are conducting mop-up and patrol operations. On the south flank, crews are working west to east to establish water delivery and directly attack the fire when it is safe.

In the Merritt Fire Zone, crews are patrolling for hot spots and establishing water delivery to newly accessible areas of the fire perimeter. Helicopters are supporting ground crews with bucketing on areas of heightened fire activity. On the Brunswick Creek fire, helicopters are bucketing water on the southeast flank during the day and overnight.

Ground crews are continuing mop-up and patrol operations around structures on the north flank, while crews on the east flank continue direct attack and mop-up along the fire’s edge behind structures. Multiple evacuation orders and alerts are in place due to the Brunswick Complex. Click here for more information about which properties are impacted.

UPDATE: 1:12 p.m. Wildland firefighters and helicopters are focusing on the southeast flank of the Ainslie Creek wildfire to prevent the blaze from spreading east, where steep terrain limits access for ground crews. The fire is part of the 19,000-hectare Brunswick Complex, which includes the Brunswick Creek and Ainslie Creek wildfires burning on opposite sides of the Fraser Canyon near Highway 1. On the east side of the complex, structure protection crews are assessing properties along the Highway 8 corridor and installing structure protection systems ahead of the fire's northeast advance.

Crews are also falling dangerous trees along the Hooshum Forest Service Road and establishing hose lines along the fire's northeast perimeter in steep terrain, according to the latest update from the BC Wildfire Service. Cabin Lake, Lightning Lake and Silver Lake recreation sites near Stoyoma Mountain remain closed due to wildfire activity and are located within a Thompson-Nicola Regional District evacuation alert area. On the west side, firefighters are working to steer the Brunswick Creek wildfire toward established control lines on its southeast flank.

The BCWS expects fire activity in that area to increase over the next 48 to 72 hours as hotter, drier weather settles into the region. Structure protection crews, helicopters and heavy equipment continue working on the Brunswick Creek wildfire, while the Scuzzy Creek, Log Creek, Fir Flat Apocynum and Nahatlatch recreation sites remain closed. The response now includes 323 firefighters, 20 helicopters, 55 pieces of heavy equipment and 66 structure protection personnel.

BCWS said prevailing winds continue pushing smoke to the northeast, allowing crews to take advantage of reduced fire behaviour to conduct direct attack, mop up and patrol operations along the Highway 1 corridor. Ground crews are also continuing to make progress mopping up hot spots and patrolling near the community of Boothroyd. Multiple evacuation orders and alerts are in place due to the Brunswick Complex.

Click here for more information about which properties are impacted. UPDATE: 9:16 a.m. Wildland firefighters are planning to conduct "heavy helicopter bucketing" on Tuesday to prevent an out-of-control blaze near Boston Bar from moving east toward Merritt through terrain that is inaccessible to ground crews.

The 19,000-hectare Brunswick complex, which consists of the Brunswick Creek and Ainslie Creek wildfires, has already triggered evacuation orders and alerts for hundreds of homes in the region, about 20 kilometres south of Lytton on Highway 1. While temperatures are increasing and humidity levels are dropping, the BC Wildfire Service said the forecast also calls for lighter winds that may aid the fight against the flames. But the agency warns that forest fuels in the area remain dry and are susceptible to increased fire behaviour if there's a short stretch of hot, dry weather.

“Ground crews are making good progress with mop up and patrol operations in the vicinity of the community of Boothroyd to the north,” BCWS said in its latest update on the fires. The wildfire service adds that the efforts to prevent the blaze from moving east coincide with crews assessing the need for structure protection along the Highway 8 corridor linking Merritt to Spences Bridge. An evacuation alert covering 61 properties near Merritt remains in effect, issued by the Thompson-Nicola Regional District, while the Nooaitch Indian Band also told residents of its main reserve to get ready to leave on short notice last week.

Adam Hart, emergency program coordinator with the City of Merritt, said on Monday there was still a "large buffer area" between the city and perimeter of the Ainslie Creek blaze, but officials were monitoring the situation. Multiple evacuation orders and alerts are in place due to the Brunswick Complex. Click here for more information about which properties are impacted.

There are approximately 23 active wildfires in B.C., with six listed as out of control. — The Canadian Press UPDATE: 8:27 a.m.

The Fraser Canyon is forecast to bake under 35 C heat on Tuesday, conditions expected to further challenge crews battling the sprawling Brunswick wildfires near Boston Bar. The Brunswick Complex is made up of the Brunswick Creek and Ainslie Creek wildfires burning on opposite sides of the Fraser River near Boston Bar, about 20 kilometres south of Lytton. Together, the fires cover roughly 19,000 hectares.

Environment Canada is forecasting lots of sun Tuesday in Boston Bar, with temperatures climbing to a high of 35 C by late afternoon. South winds are expected to increase to 20 km/h, gusting to 40 km/h, beginning around noon and no precipitation is forecast. The overnight outlook offers little relief, with temperatures expected to fall to only about 18 C before another warm day begins.

Environment Canada is calling for a high of 37 C in Boston Bar on Wednesday. The forecast follows a warning from the BC Wildfire Service that a ridge of high pressure is expected to bring hotter, drier conditions. Officials have said relative humidity is expected to plummet, making already dry forest fuels more susceptible to increased fire behaviour despite generally lighter winds.

Highway 1 is open through the area, but drivers are not allowed to stop in the fire zone. ORIGINAL STORY: 8:02 a.m. Hotter, drier weather is expected to increase fire activity on the Brunswick wildfire complex in coming days as crews continue working to protect communities and the infrastructure that connects them.

In the most recent update on Monday, the BC Wildfire Service said temperatures are forecast to climb into the high 20s and low 30s this week, with humidity dropping into the teens through at least Wednesday. While lighter winds are expected, dry forest fuels mean fire behaviour is likely to increase. The Brunswick Complex is made up of the Brunswick Creek and Ainslie Creek wildfires, burning on either side of the Fraser River in the Fraser Canyon near Boston Bar, about 20 kilometres south of Lytton.

The fires cover a combined area of about 19,000 hectares. On Monday, crews remained focused on mopping up hot spots, protecting structures and strengthening containment lines in the Fraser Zone. BCWS said the burn scar from the 2023 Kookipi Creek fire is helping slow growth to the north.

In the Merritt Zone, crews continue to mop up hot spots and remove dangerous trees above the Hooshum Forest Service Road. Others are establishing hose lines along the fire’s northeast perimeter. “This region has very steep and at times unworkable terrain,” the wildfire service said.

“Heavy equipment resources and a line locator are establishing contingency lines and access to the fire’s edge.” Structure protection teams and night-vision-equipped helicopters are working across the complex. Motorists travelling along Highway 1 should expect ongoing lane closures and traffic interruptions.

Drivers are urged to check DriveBC before travelling, obey posted speed limits and avoid stopping in wildfire zones. Officials are also reminding the public that flying drones near active wildfires is illegal and can interfere with firefighting efforts, potentially resulting in fines or imprisonment. Some recreation sites, trails and Nahatlatch Park remain closed due to wildfire activity.

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