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Find relevant information, news articles, official updates, and resources related to fires in Vancouver.

Remember to refer to official sources, such as local government websites and authorities, for the most accurate and up-to-date information during wildfire events.

Vancouver often experiences wildfires during the summer months due to its proximity to forested areas and the dry climate. These wildfires can be caused by natural factors such as lightning strikes or human activities like campfires or discarded cigarettes.

In recent years, British Columbia, including the Vancouver area, has faced several notable wildfire seasons. For example, in 2017, a significant wildfire season occurred, leading to multiple fires in the province. The smoke from these fires affected air quality in Vancouver and surrounding areas, causing health concerns for residents.

In 2018, another severe wildfire season affected British Columbia. The smoke from these fires again impacted the air quality in Vancouver, resulting in advisories and precautions for residents, particularly those with respiratory conditions.

To mitigate the impact of wildfires, the government and various organizations in the region have implemented measures such as fire bans, public awareness campaigns, and enhanced firefighting efforts. These measures aim to prevent wildfires and ensure the safety of residents and the preservation of the natural environment.

It's important for residents and visitors to stay informed about wildfire risks and follow any advisories or evacuation orders issued by local authorities during wildfire seasons.

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• Forest fires 2023

Wildfires on Vancouver Island could have been deliberately lit

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The RCMP is investigating forest fires that may have been deliberately lit on northern Vancouver Island, including that of Newcastle Creek, in the photo.

PHOTO: BC WILDFIRE SERVICERadio-CanadaPublished on July 6 at 3:42 UTC+2

Police are looking for suspects who allegedly intentionally lit several forest fires near Sayward, a village of 300 inhabitants located in an isolated area on the northeast coast of Vancouver Island.

A first fire, that of Browning Creek, about a 10-minute drive south of Sayward, was discovered on Monday, July 3.

Just before the discovery of the fire near Browning Creek, witnesses who were in the area saw people nearby on four-wheelers, said Sergeant of Staff Kris Clark, Senior Media Relations Officer at the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP), said in a statement.

The police want to talk to anyone, including the drivers of the four-wheelers in question, who would have seen something suspicious near the Browning Creek fire or any other fire, says the statement.

Other fires targeted by an investigation

The police are also investigating the cause of a second fire, that of Newcastle Creek, located 5.6 kilometers west of Sayward. This fire, which extends over 2.3 square kilometers, is currently under control.

Other fires in the region, which have since been extinguished, are also suspected of being of human origin. TheGRCmentions in particular the fires along the forest service roads Memekay, White River and Big Tree.

The General Investigations Section of the Vancouver Island District of theGRCconducts the investigation. Anyone who has information about ongoing forest fires or those already extinguished in the vicinity of Sayward is requested to contact theGRCat (250) 331-6010.

Although it is still early in the summer, all forest fires in British Columbia have already burned nearly 10,500 square kilometers since April ^1, 2023, according to the Forest Fire Service, BC Wildfire. This is the third largest burned area ever recorded in the province.

The risk of fire

The fire risk is a relative index indicating the level of ease to ignite a vegetation fire, the level of difficulty that a fire may require to be controlled and the amount of damage that a fire can cause.

weak		Possibly self-extinguishing fire; new ignitions are unlikely. Any existing fire is limited to incubation in drier deep layers.
Moderate		Moderate creeping surface fire. It is easily circumscribed by ground teams equipped with pumps and hand tools.
High		Moderate to vigorous surface fire with intermittent involvement of the peaks. Challenges to the teams responsible for fighting it in the field; heavy equipment (sludges, water tank trucks and aircraft) is often required to contain the fire.
Very High		High-intensity fire with partial or complete involvement of the peaks. The conditions at the fire front are beyond the ability of field teams to deal with them; air attacks with the release of flame retardants are required to effectively fight the fire front.
Extreme		High intensity and fast-spreading top fire. Very difficult to control. Suppression actions are limited to the flanks while only indirect actions are possible at the front of the fire.
Not Applicable		No calculations have been made for thi

The battle against hundreds of forest fires continues in Canada, as many jurisdictions are subject to heat or air quality warnings from the federal government. Here is an overview of developments on Thursday.

The number of forest fires is decreasing slightly

The number of wildfires in the country has dropped slightly with 431 fires in nine provinces and two territories.

This is down from the 441 fires on Wednesday, with Quebec extinguishing 10 fires.

The number of uncontrolled fires has also increased from 256 to 234, including a change of status for more than a dozen fires in Quebec.

Fires and smoke affecting millions of Canadians sparked a debate in the House of Commons, MPs expressed their solidarity with those affected, and discussed the role of climate change.

Evacuation order in northeastern BC

An evacuation order was given for residents of the Tumbler Ridge district, a community of 2,400 people in northeastern British Columbia, due to the threat posed by an invasive forest fire.

The BC Wildfire Service claims that the fire, with an area of about 96 square kilometers, spreads aggressively and does not respond to suppression efforts.

In the meantime, opinions on air quality have been issued for part of Vancouver Island and much of the Lower Mainland.

Two uncontrollable wildfires east of Vancouver, as well as a fire on Vancouver Island, contribute to the state of the sky that is veiled.

Environment Canada says that a change in weather conditions could reduce smoke and showers are likely in the lower quarter of the province on Friday.

However, no rain is expected in some arid regions of northeastern British Columbia until at least next week. Forecasts indicate that temperatures should remain well above average throughout the weekend.

Alberta PM minimizes the link between forest fires and climate change

Prime Minister Danielle Smith said the government was bringing in arson investigators from outside the province to trace the cause of the forest fires that are unprecedented in Alberta.

When asked how she reconciled the energy policies of her United Conservative Party government with the link established by experts between this year's extreme fire season and climate change, Ms. Smith replied that she was concerned about arson.

Ms. Smith also said that Alberta needed to do a better job of building firewalls around communities.

She is not the only politician to minimize the link between forest fires and climate change, but scientists have said that fires are larger and more intense because of climate change

Also read:

• wildfires in BC: hot and dry weather expected, campfires prohibited
• wildfires: BC must change its strategy to avoid more disasters