B.C. fires: what you need to know - Action News
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British Columbia

B.C. fires: what you need to know

Wildfires burning across B.C. have triggered evacuation alerts in the West Kelowna areas of the Interior of the province.

Get the latest updates on wildfires, air quality advisories and evacuation alerts and warnings

July 22 - Smoke advisory issued for the Okanagan Valley.

The province also publishes air quality readings for specific cities and regions on the B.C. Air Quality website.

July 22 - The evacuation alert for 80 homes near the Bear Creek fire in the Central Okanagan was lifted.

July 21 - The Thompson-Nicola Regional District issued an evacuation alert due to a wildfire burning at the north end of Adams Lake southeast of Clearwater.

July 21 - 80 active fires larger than ten hectares burning in B.C. So far this season 1,251 wildfires have burned 294,464 hectares.

July 20 - Westside Road fire triggers an evacuation order from the Central Okanagan Regional District affecting about 70 homes. BC. Hydro also cuts power to homes in the area.

July 20 - Evacuation order and an alert issued by the Columbia Shuswap Regional District for the Bolean Lake fire,affecting one resort and about 24 properties in the area.

An evacuation alert has been issued by the Thompson-Nicola Regional District for the Coldstream Creek fire near Ashcroft,affecting 28 properties in the area.

An evacuation order and an alert issued by the Cariboo Regional District remains in effect for the Puntzi Lake fire.

The latest updates can also be found on the province's EmergencyInfoBC website.

The provincial wildfire management branch posts updates on the largest fires here.

Campfire bans:

July 14 - The Coastal Fire Centre lifted thecampfire ban for Haida Gwaii and the two kilometre-wide strip on Vancouver Island known as the "Fog Bank".

All othercampfire bans in the provinceremain in place.

Fire danger ratings are also posted by the branch.

Here is a map of the active fires in B.C.

A map of wildfires across Canada is also published by Natural Resources Canada

Water restrictions:

The Lower Mainland, Sunshine Coast and Fraser Valley have joined Vancouver Island at Level 4 drought on the provincial scale meaning if water supplies continue to dwindle, shortages could affect people, industry and agriculture.

The provincial drought rating is distinct from regional ratings used by water managers to set specific limits on lawn watering and other uses.

Several regions have issued water restrictions, including Metro Vancouver, which has issued a stage three water restriction, which bans all lawn sprinkling, personal car washing, and other water use.

Further water restrictions are in place in several Vancouver Island communities as well.

A ban on sports fishing has also been issued for many rivers on the South Coast of B.C.

Travel restrictions:

Updates on highway closures are also posted on the DriveBC website by the Ministry of Transportation.

There are no flight cancellations reported at Vancouver International Airport, Harbour Air orHelijet.

B.C. wildfire news:

Get the latest CBC News stories on wildfires in B.C. from our special webpage.