Update, 7:45 p.m. Wednesday: Ainslie Creek wildfire doubles to nearly 17,000 hectares

UPDATE, 7:45 P.M. WEDNESDAY: The BC Wildfire Service now says the Ainslie Creek wildfire has doubled in size. Earlier today, it was just over 8,800 hectares. As of 6:48 p.m., BCWS now reports it has ballooned to a staggering estimate of 16,987 hectares. Nearly 150 firefighters, 12 helicopters, 21 pieces of heavy equipment, and 57 structure protection personnel are assigned to the Brunswick Complex.

BCWS says the Ainslie Creek wildfire has “grown substantially” over the last two days and is highly visible from North Bend, Boston Bar and surrounding communities.

The wildfire service says priorities on this wildfire include working to limit the growth and spread of this specific wildfire to the north, and forward planning to protect structures and critical infrastructure, including the Highway 1 corridor, power lines and communication networks. Bucketing helicopters will continue to action areas of heat in support of ground crews. Aviation operations may be hindered when smoke inversions arise, BCWS said.

Two groups of helicopters equipped with night vision will continue to assist in 24-hour operations on this incident when conditions allow.

Popkum firefighters have been dispatched to the Boston Bar area to help battle either of these two fires. Earlier today, two members of the Hope Fire Department deployed to help support BCWS in Boston Bar.

“They’ll be joining crews from across the region as wildfire activity increases, bringing their training, experience, and commitment to the communities that need it,” Hope Fire Department wrote online. “Thank you to our members for stepping up, and to their families for supporting them during deployment. Stay safe out there.”

At 7:13 p.m., the Alertable app advised that the Fraser Valley Regional District issued an evacuation order for the area of Nahatlatch and North Boothroyd area due to the ongoing wildfire risk from the Brunswick Creek and Ainslie Creek wildfires. Residents in this designated area must leave immediately.

Original story: 

FRASER CANYON – Two out-of-control wildfires burning near Boston Bar in the Fraser Canyon are responsible for blanketing the greater Kamloops area with smoky skies and poor air quality.

Together, the Brunswick Creek fire on the west side of the Fraser River and the Ainslie Creek fire on the east side have now surpassed 10,000 hectares in size, according to the BC Wildfire Service.

Local First Nations and the Fraser Valley Regional District have several evacuation orders and alerts in place.

The Trans Canada Highway remains closed in a 10-kilometre stretch north of Boston Bar.

The wildfire service says heat and high winds yesterday led to rapid growth of both fires.

There are nearly 150 firefighters working on containing the blazes, along with more than 50 structure protection specialists and about a dozen helicopters.

The Boston Bar First Nation has issued an evacuation order for Indian Reserve 4 Bucktum due to the Brunswick Creek & Ainslie Creek. Anyone in the affected area must leave immediately, according to Emergency Info BC.