(UPDATE: July 9 @ 10 am) - The Ainslie Creek wildfire on the east side of Hwy 1 through the Fraser Canyon was a few hundred hectares in size on Tuesday.
The BC Wildfire Service's latest size estimate shared late Wednesday night pegs the fire at a whopping 16,987 hectares.
"This wildfire has grown substantially over the last two days," the BCWS update says, noting that the Fraser Canyon has experienced "sustained strong winds, dry conditions and no rain" during that time.
Unfortunately, those conditions are expected to continue and the BCWS expects the blaze to keep growing at an accelerated rate.
It's unclear how many structures have already been destroyed by the massive Ainslie Creek wildfire, but the number is not zero.
Blue Lake Resort shared on Facebook Wednesday that at least one house on the property has been destroyed by fire.
The popular resort was included in one of the first evacuation orders issued on Sunday afternoon.
There are now several evacuation orders and alerts in place for the Brunswick Complex, which includes the Ainslie Creek wildfire and the nearby 2,600-hectare Brunswick Creek wildfire on the west side of the Fraser River.
Firefighting operations are being led by an incident management team that is in charge of 146 ground personnel, 57 structure protection personnel, 21 pieces of heavy equipment and 12 helicopters, which includes two night vision-equipped choppers.
Hwy 1 remains closed through the Fraser Canyon and is unlikely to reopen any time soon.
(UPDATE: July 8 @ 11 am) - A pair of wildfires in the Fraser Canyon continue to grow significantly.
According to the BC Wildfire Service, the Brunswick Creek wildfire is up to 2,623 hectares, up from the previous estimate of 1,800 hectares, while the Ainslie Creek wildfire has ballooned from under 1,000 hectares to nearly 9,000 hectares in size since Tuesday.
The Fraser Valley Regional District has several evacuation orders and alerts in place, while the Boothroyd Indian Band and Boston Bar First Nation have also ordered people to evacuate.
DriveBC says the Highway 1 remains closed through the area due to the dual wildfires straddling the major route and the Fraser River.
(Original story: July 8 @ 7:10 am) - More people have been ordered to leave their homes as two wildfires continue to burn in the Fraser Canyon, where wildfire activity has also disrupted travel on the Trans-Canada Highway.
EmergencyInfoBC says the Fraser Valley Regional District upgraded an evacuation alert to an evacuation order for the Canyon Alpine area late Tuesday due to the ongoing risk from the Brunswick Creek and Ainslie Creek wildfires.
Anyone in the affected area has been told to leave immediately.
Evacuees who need in-person support can go to Shxwhá Village at 44680 Schweyey Road in Chilliwack.
The BC Evacuee Helpline was open until 11 p.m. Tuesday at 1-800-387-4258.
A travel advisory is also in effect for Highway 1, with officials warning the highway may close on short or no notice because of wildfire activity.
DriveBC said Tuesday that Highway 1 had been closed between Boston Bar Station Road and Ainslie Road North because of the Brunswick Creek wildfire.
The BC Wildfire Service says the Brunswick Creek fire, burning near Boston Bar, is out of control and estimated at 1,800 hectares.
The fire was discovered on July 2 and is suspected to have been caused by human activity.
The Canyon Alpine order follows earlier evacuation orders and alerts issued in the area as the fire grew.
A Canadian Press report published Tuesday said B.C.’s Ministry of Emergency Management and Climate Readiness had put about 150 properties under evacuation order and about 255 properties under evacuation alert.
The report said the Fraser Valley Regional District had also issued an evacuation alert covering 48 properties north of Boston Bar, along both sides of the Fraser River.
BC Wildfire Service said Tuesday afternoon that gusty winds were expected through the day and could increase fire activity.
“The fire is expected to become more active with windy conditions, especially in areas where wind and steep slopes align,” the wildfire service said.
Crews are attacking the fire from the ground, supported by heavy equipment and aviation resources, including helicopters.
“Groundcrews are conducting direct attack and assisting structure protection operations on the northern flank of the fire,” the service said.
“Groundcrews are also working with heavy equipment to create a fuel break south of the fire.”
Multiple local fire departments are also supporting efforts to protect homes in the region.
The nearby Ainslie Creek wildfire is also contributing to evacuation concerns in the Canyon Alpine area.
Emergency officials are urging people in affected areas to follow instructions from local authorities and check DriveBC for the latest highway updates.
