Number of active wildfires in ÎÚÑ»´«Ã½ jumps to 120, with half started in last 24 hours

A helicopter carrying a water bucket flies past the Lytton Creek wildfire burning in the mountains near Lytton, ÎÚÑ»´«Ã½, on Sunday, Aug. 15, 2021. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck

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An evacuation order has been lifted for all residents who were chased out by a wildfire near Peachland, ÎÚÑ»´«Ã½, just days ago. 

The Central Okanagan Emergency Operations centre says the remaining 118 addresses on the last evacuation order are now cleared, and residents can return home but must be ready to leave again quickly. 

The BC Wildfire service says the blaze is no longer out of control, and is now considered as being held after aerial firefighting efforts were effective in cooling the fire. 

Police and fire crews went door-to-door on Wednesday to rush residents out of 400 properties that had been threatened by the fast-moving wildfire. 

The number of active wildfires in British Columbia continues to spike after high temperatures and lightning strikes this week, with about 120 blazes burning around the province.

The BC Wildfire Service says that half of the fires had been started since late Wednesday as lightning storms swept across the province. 

The wildfire service says the Cariboo Fire region in central ÎÚÑ»´«Ã½ saw more than 1,200 lightning strikes Wednesday, which started 13 new fires in the area.

A wildfire south of Lytton, ÎÚÑ»´«Ã½, has been measured at just over 12-square kilometres in size and an evacuation order issued by the Lytton First Nation remains in place because of the blaze. 

The wildfire service says the fire is highly visible from Highway 1, and motorists are asked to use extra caution and be aware of their surroundings while passing through.

The Nanaimo Regional District on Vancouver Island declared a state of local emergency because of wildfire burning on the north banks of Cameron Lake, about 60 kilometres from the City of Nanaimo. 

Homes on the north side of the lake have been ordered evacuated, while other nearby properties have been put on evacuation alert. 

The wildfire service says heat warnings have ended for much of the province and there's a small chance of isolated showers, but dry conditions mean fuel on the ground remains ripe for ignition.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Aug. 1, 2025.

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