A wildfire that broke out in Belcarra Regional Park near Vancouver has been brought under control, officials reported Thursday, after prompting evacuations and stirring concern among nearby communities. The fire, which consumed approximately 1.5 hectares of forested land along Burrard Inlet, came dangerously close to the village of Anmore, leading to the evacuation of two homes and evacuation alerts issued for 35 other properties.
Residents in the area witnessed the rapid spread of flames late Wednesday afternoon, with some, including local resident Walker Adair, tracking the fire’s progress online before arriving near the scene as firefighting efforts began. Fire crews faced challenges early on, including downed power lines in the affected area. Metro Vancouver’s wildfire incident commander, Brant Arnold-Smith, confirmed that human activity is believed to have caused the blaze, marking the first major wildfire in the Metro Vancouver region this season.
Anmore’s Mayor, John McEwan, highlighted the involvement of approximately 40 volunteer firefighters from the village, who worked alongside multiple fire departments to contain the fire. He noted some initial coordination difficulties given the presence of various agencies, but praised the collective efforts to suppress the flames. McEwan also criticized the communication response, calling for clearer and more forthright information from local government and Metro Vancouver, citing confusion and misinformation spreading on social media during the early stages.
The wildfire emerged amid a worsening regional wildfire situation across British Columbia’s southern Interior, which has remained hot and dry, creating conducive conditions for extensive fire activity. In the South Cariboo area near Clinton, the Pear Lake wildfire has expanded to approximately 126,000 hectares, destroying at least 120 properties. The North Okanagan region near Vernon has also been severely affected, with 230 homes lost and thousands of residents ordered to evacuate. Another fire along Okanagan Lake has led to evacuations of properties, affecting over 2,600 people in the area linked to the Quilpituk Creek wildfire.
Despite the proximity of the fire to popular recreation sites such as Buntzen Lake, which saw helicopters collecting water to support firefighting efforts, residents and businesses have been forced to halt activities and prepare for potential evacuation. Jennifer Jung, owner of a boat rental business near the lake, described the situation as “really scary” and noted the rapid fire spread had forced an abrupt closure of her operation.
Provincial Premier David Eby acknowledged the extensive wildfire response efforts during a media briefing in Abbotsford on Thursday, where he welcomed 200 firefighters from Mexico who arrived to assist local crews. Eby commended the “heroism and mutual support” displayed by communities and responders across British Columbia.
As of Thursday, the BC Wildfire Service reported 105 active fires in the province, with 49 classified as out of control. There were also 32 evacuation orders in effect, though some residents in the Fraser Canyon near Boston Bar have begun returning home following a downgrade of evacuation statuses, despite ongoing boil-water advisories and warnings for residents to bring supplies for a cautious re-entry. In the East Kootenay region, all evacuation orders and alerts related to the Wait Creek fire near Kimberley were lifted.
Authorities continue to monitor conditions closely as fire risk remains elevated due to persistent hot and dry weather forecasts.