Boston Bar, B.C., wildfire grows in size after evacuation order

By the Editorial Team · Monday, July 6, 2026

The Brunswick Creek wildfire near Boston Bar, British Columbia, grew from one to over 12 square kilometres within two days, prompting multiple evacuation orders and extensive firefighting efforts involving helicopters and crews. High winds have worsened fire behavior, complicating containment as the blaze joins several others challenging fire services across the province.

A wildfire near Boston Bar, British Columbia, has expanded significantly since it was first detected earlier this week, prompting evacuation orders and increased response efforts. The Brunswick Creek fire, initially estimated at one square kilometre on Saturday, grew to over 12 square kilometres by Sunday afternoon, according to the BC Wildfire Service.

The escalating situation led the Boothroyd Indian Band to issue an evacuation order Sunday morning for areas under its jurisdiction. This followed an earlier evacuation directive from the Fraser Valley Regional District for residents in the North Bend area, which covers approximately 120 properties. While the regional district’s order was specific about the number of properties affected, the scope of the First Nation’s evacuation order was not clearly quantified. Additionally, an evacuation alert was extended to the community of Boston Bar itself, which has just under 200 inhabitants.

The fire was first detected on July 2 and is believed to have been caused by human activity. BC Wildfire Service deployed multiple response teams, including three initial attack crews, two unit crews, and two response officers, supported by six helicopters during the day. Two additional helicopter groups equipped with night vision technology were also active. Despite these resources, response efforts have been complicated by challenging conditions such as poor visibility and steep terrain, which have limited aerial firefighting operations. Safety remains a top priority for crews, pilots, and the public.

British Columbia’s Forests Minister Ravi Parmar confirmed that BC Wildfire Service continues to assist local fire departments with personnel and equipment, including night-vision-equipped helicopters. Smoke from the fire has been visible as far away as the Merritt area. Drive BC reported that while Highway 1, a major route running along the eastern side of the Fraser River, remained open, two local roads on the same side of the river were closed in both directions. Evacuation zones predominantly cover areas west of the Fraser River near Boston Bar, but orders also extend to parts of the river’s eastern shore north of the community.

BC Wildfire Service noted that the decision to issue and expand evacuation orders was influenced by high winds on Sunday afternoon, which caused more aggressive fire behavior. The Brunswick Creek fire is among 25 active wildfires across the province as of Sunday. Of those, eight ignited within the previous 24 hours, with six classified as out of control, indicating ongoing or anticipated spread beyond existing containment lines. The remaining fires are reported to be either under control or held.

This article was reported by synthesizing coverage from multiple independent news outlets to present a balanced, unbiased account. Read about our editorial standards. Spotted an error? Let us know.