Evacuation order extended as fire activity intensifies
Authorities issued an evacuation order for the Boston Bar town site on Thursday morning after a wildfire complex that has threatened the community this month burned with increased intensity overnight. The order extended to roughly 200 properties in and around the town site, which is home to about 170 residents.
Local motel owner Gurvinder Badyal confirmed she and other proprietors remained on site despite the order. Her property is hosting firefighters and has had protective measures installed by crews.
“They’re trying to help us as much as they can. We have sprinklers installed by them on my whole property,”
Scale of the fires and regional impact
The B.C. Wildfire Service reported about 35 active blazes across the province on Thursday afternoon, including 20 fires that had ignited in the previous 24 hours — most attributed to lightning in southern B.C. One fire near Pemberton, however, is believed to be human-caused. The service said it expected the Brunswick complex to continue to show “aggressive fire behaviour.”
Emergency measures included closures and travel restrictions: evacuees were directed south via Highway 1, while the highway north of the community had been closed because of fire activity. The Fraser Valley Regional District advised people needing support to go to the Shxwháy Village community centre in Chilliwack.
On-the-ground conditions and response
Residents reported heavy smoke and poor air quality locally. Badyal said she had not seen flames on her property but described the air as difficult to breathe. Her motel was sheltering roughly 35 firefighters, who have been working extended shifts while using the site as a base.
The Brunswick complex, composed of the Brunswick Creek and Ainslie Creek fires, had already prompted earlier evacuation notices affecting hundreds of properties before Thursday’s expanded order.
- Active blazes: ~35 across B.C.
- New starts: 20 within previous 24 hours
- Properties under evacuation: ~200 in Boston Bar area
- Local population: Boston Bar town site ~170 residents
- Firefighters housed at motel: ~35
| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| Active fires (province) | 35 |
| Fires started in last 24 hours | 20 |
| Properties under evacuation (Boston Bar) | ~200 |
| Approximate town population | ~170 |
Consequences for households and local business
Expanded evacuation orders disrupt daily life and commerce in a community of this size. For households, the directive requires rapid relocation, potential displacement and reliance on regional support services. Small businesses face immediate income losses from closures, logistical challenges for staff and guests, and possible physical damage if fires shift toward built areas.
In this case, one motel is simultaneously a place of business and an operational hub for firefighting crews, which reduces its capacity for typical guests but provides critical shelter for response personnel. Highway closures also interrupt supply chains, impede commuter movement and can delay delivery of emergency resources.
With multiple new starts linked to lightning activity across southern B.C. and at least one human-caused ignition near Pemberton, the situation underscores the dual pressures of extreme weather and human factors on wildfire risk this season.
Officials continue to monitor conditions and adjust evacuation and support measures as the fire behaviour evolves.
