Campers near B.C. lake asked to leave due to wildfire as new blazes emerge this week

The BC Wildfire Service has upgraded a blaze in the Fraser Valley to a wildfire-of-note and is warning campers to leave the Harrison Lake area.

It says the Bear Creek fire has reached 65 hectares in size, and road closures in the area have been put in place ahead of the long weekend.

A number of other significant fires have started across the province this week, with high temperatures in the southern Interior triggering a heat warning from Environment Canada.

The Drought Hill fire near Peachland has led to an evacuation order for about 400 properties, while another 225 are on alert.

The Cantilever Bar fire near Lytton, at 650 hectares, also continues to burn out of control as a number of nearby communities remain on evacuation alert.

There are about 70 active wildfires across the province, with 20 started in the last 24 hours.

Environment Canada says recent heat pushed temperatures in Interior communities to daily record highs Wednesday, including in Prince George, Quesnel, Dawson Creek and Penticton — which saw temperatures spike as high as 36.8 C.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published July 31, 2025.

Chuck Chiang, The Canadian Press