New wildfire prompts evacuation alerts, air quality warnings in B.C.
A new wildfire between Hope and Spuzzum, B.C., along Highway 1, has led the Fraser Valley Regional District and Spuzzum First Nation to issue evacuation alerts.
An evacuation alert requires residents to be prepared to leave at a moment's notice.
The regional district's alert currently affects about 240 people over 85 properties on the east and west side of the Fraser River between Spuzzum and Yale, according to Samantha Piper, Fraser Valley Regional District (FVRD) communications manager.
"We just want to remind everyone that fire behaviour, we know, is very unpredictable and can change quickly, so being prepared is key," Piper said.
She suggested residents create a grab-and-go bag and subscribe to the regional district's notification system Alertable.
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Spuzzum First Nation's alert includes seven reserves.
The Sailor Bar wildfire was discovered late Saturday night on the east side of the Fraser River, opposite Highway 1, seven kilometres north of Yale, according to the B.C. Wildfire Service.
The fire, which measured 120 hectares (1.2 square kilometres) in size as of Sunday afternoon, is classified as out of control, meaning it is expected to spread beyond its current perimeter.
Fire information officer Kimberly Kelly said the fire is burning at Rank 2, which is an open visible flame front and a slower rate of spread.
"We're not seeing ... a wall of flame right now, it's just we are seeing a little bit of growth due to the fact, mostly, this [fire] is in steep, inoperable terrain," she said.
Six helicopters have been bucketing the fire on Sunday, which should cool and reduce the fire behaviour, Kelly added.
She noted the region is seeing a warming, drying trend along with extreme heat and low relative humidity. This, she said, makes for fires that are prone to an "aggressive rate of spread."
"[This] creates more challenging conditions for our crews and resources," Kelly said.
The fire is suspected to be human caused, which is how any wildfire not sparked by lightning is categorized.
"The majority of the fires that we've seen in the Coastal Fire Centre this season have been human caused. These are completely preventable and divert our resources away from naturally caused wildfires," Kelly said.
She encouraged the public to recreate responsibly and asked people to report any sign of smoke or wildfire on the B.C. Wildfire Service app or by dialling *5555 on a cellphone.
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Air quality warning
Smoke from the Sailor Bar wildfire has led to high levels of fine particulate matter in the eastern Fraser Valley, contributing to an air quality warning, said the Metro Vancouver Regional District on Sunday.
Residents were asked to consider postponing or limiting outdoor activities, especially for those at risk.
DriveBC warned drivers not to stop to view the wildfire.
As of Sunday afternoon, there were 70 active wildfires burning across the province.
This article was originally written by and published for CBC News. It contains files from Lauren Vanderdeen and Janella Hamilton.
Thumbnail image credit to B.C. Wildfire Service via CBC News.