Officials have broadened evacuation directives concerning the largest wildfire in British Columbia. The Squamish-Lillooet Regional District extended an evacuation order on Saturday to encompass properties near Highway 99 in the Marble Canyon area, south of the Pear Lake wildfire. Simultaneously, the Thompson-Nicola Regional District expanded an evacuation order along Highway 99, west of the Highway 97 junction. Together, the expanded orders from both regional districts now affect nearly 200 properties. Additionally, the Ts’kw’aylaxw First Nation has issued evacuation orders covering several reserves.
Moreover, all three governmental bodies have expanded evacuation alerts. The Pear Lake wildfire has scorched over 1,647 square kilometers, as reported by the B.C. Wildfire Service, leading to structural damage on more than 120 properties, primarily around Clinton. The fire is most active on its western and southern perimeters. As of Saturday afternoon, British Columbia was grappling with nearly 130 active wildfires, with 45 of them categorized as uncontained.
The B.C. government declared an extension of the provincial state of emergency linked to wildfires until at least August 29. Residents of Clinton have been allowed to return home, while evacuation orders persist for properties to the west of the village due to the Pear Lake Wildfire. Summerland residents are gradually being permitted to return, with a boil water notice in effect for the district.