As Revelstoke faces another week of hazardous air quality and uncomfortable temperatures, a stream of firefighters from around the world arrive in British Columbia to combat the blazes.
With 248 active fires and 1,237 wildfires recorded since April 1, British Columbia is facing an increasingly difficult fire season after two summers of calm conditions. Over 3,300 properties are under an evacuation order, and another 18,000 are on evacuation alert.
Another heatwave is in the forecast, and conditions are tense in the province’s interior. Although Revelstoke remains unthreatened by evacuation alerts, smoke continues to choke the town. As poor air quality combines with high temperatures, many eyes are eagerly watching for rain in the forecast.
Ready for more heat later this week? Special Weather Statements are in effect for many parts of southern BC. Though temperatures won’t be as historic as at the end of June, it is very important to prepare & look after vulnerable groups!https://t.co/pdZSfGG5zU#BCStorm #BCHeat pic.twitter.com/toVSvS68Fi
— ECCC Weather British Columbia (@ECCCWeatherBC) July 27, 2021
Recently discovered wildfires in the Revelstoke area
Lightning started two fires near Revelstoke on July 27. Closer to town is the Mulvehill Creek fire, which is relatively small at 0.30 hectares.
The South Cranberry Creek fire is approximately 30 hectares and located 26 kilometres south of Revelstoke. Also initiated by lightning on July 27, the wildfire is currently labeled as out-of-control.
Significant wildfires remain west of Revelstoke
The Three Valley Lake wildfire remains of note, according to BC Wildfire Services. An evacuation order is still in place for the Three Valley Gap area.
Across Highway 1, the Wap Creek wildfire remains out of control. At 281 hectares, growth has slowed for the blaze. The cause of this fire is still unknown, despite announcements that BC Wildfire Services is investigating suspicions of human involvement.
Remote wildfires continue to burn north of Revelstoke
North of Revelstoke, plumes of smoke rise above the mountains along Highway 23. There are seven out-of-control fires between Revelstoke and Mica Dam, threatening logging operations in the area.
Two of these fires are burning in the Bigmouth Creek area, near the Argonaut Creek Valley logging blockade. The newer fire was discovered on July 25, and sits at 0.01 hectares. However, an older fire discovered on July 11 has grown to over 885 hectares. Due to their remote locations, there are not many updates on these wildfires.
Learn more about the extended effects of wildfires on emergency resources here:
No time for risks: Wildfires strain emergency services, including backcountry rescue operations
Update: A correction was made to this article, removing a 2020 Twitter post containing an image of last year’s Mulvehill Creek fire. We apologize for the mistake.