The Ainslie Creek fire is the larger of the two, with an estimated size of more 88 square kilometres, while the Brunswick Creek fire is more than 26 square kilometres.James MacDonald/The Globe and Mail
Officials say strong winds through British Columbia’s Fraser Canyon northeast of Vancouver could further fuel two wildfires that are burning out of control.
The B.C. Wildfire Service says the Brunswick Creek and Ainslie Creek wildfires burning near Boston Bar, B.C., measure more than 114 square kilometres and have forced residents to evacuate from 222 properties.
Two evacuation alerts that warn other residents to be ready to leave at short notice now cover 188 nearby properties, including the community of Boston Bar itself.
Second out-of-control wildfire triggers evacuations in Boston Bar, B.C.
Six separate evacuation orders are now in place, including for two First Nation communities, along with two evacuation alerts for other residents.
The fires have also forced the closure of the Trans-Canada Highway, and while they are burning on either side of the Fraser River, the service now calls the fires the Brunswick Complex.
Wildfire officials say high winds and hot, dry conditions fuelled both fires, and more wind could further increase fire behaviour, despite a forecast for lower temperatures.
The service says in its most recent update that the terrain poses difficulties.
“Much of this area is marked by extremely steep and challenging terrain, which can align with wind and fuels, elevating fire behaviour and growth,” it says in an update.
The Ainslie Creek fire is the larger of the two, with an estimated size of more 88-square kilometres, while the Brunswick Creek fire is more than 26-square kilometres, and both are believed to be human caused.
The two fires are among about 20 active blazes burning across B.C., but they are listed as the only fires of note.
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The two fires have also knocked out power for hundreds of customers.
BC Hydro said Wednesday that more than 220 customers were without electricity after it de-energized three sections of a power line Tuesday to keep crews safe who were working on the ground.
It says two distribution poles within the active fire zone have been damaged, including part of the main line serving the area.
BC Hydro says crews are ready to respond as soon as it’s safe to do so.
“Before we can begin repairs, we need clearance from BC Wildfire Service confirming conditions are safe for crews to enter the area,” it says in a statement. “Once we receive that clearance, we’ll assess the damage and work to restore power as quickly and safely as possible.”