Tracking wildfires in British Columbia

Still recovering from the historic wildfire of 2023, B.C. is bracing for another challenging summer.

B.C.'s wildfire season in 2023 is widely regarded as the worst on record, with tens of thousands of people evacuated from their homes. In all, about 400 structures were destroyed andmore than 28,400 square kilometresof land burned, causing an estimated$720 million in damage.

It was also deadly: Two front-line wildfire fighters werekilled on the joband four others contracted to the B.C. Wildfire Servicewere killed in a collisionwhile driving home from supporting firefighting efforts. Additionally, a nine-year-old boydied of an asthma attack made worse by wildfire smoke.

Here is an up-to-date look at the wildfire situation in B.C. today.

Looking for specific information about wildfires in your community? Visit our B.C. wildfire guide.

Discovered on July 12, the rapid growth of theShetland Creek wildfire put hundreds of people under evacuation orders and alerts, including the communities of Ashcroft and Spences Bridge.

The Antler Creek fire was discovered July 20, with lightning as its probable cause. On July 22, its growth prompted evacuation orders for the historic site of Barkerville, a former Cariboo gold rush town, as well as the artistic enclave of Wells and Bowron Lake Provincial Park.

In the Kootenays, the Aylwin Creek and Komonko Creek wildfires are responsible for multiple evacuation orders and alerts.