A massive column of smoke towered over the Fraser Canyon Friday as the Brunswick Creek Complex fires continued to burn near Boston Bar, forcing hundreds of people from their homes and leaving many more on evacuation alert. Tourists travelling through the area were being turned around as a stretch of of Highway 1 remained closed in both directions, limiting access to communities impacted by the fast-moving wildfire. The fires have produced a pyrocumulus cloud, a towering formation created by intense heat and rising smoke, visible from kilometres away. “That clean air mass is allowing for fire behavior to pickup,” said Morgan Boyce with the BC Wildfire Service. For evacuee Bryan Fogelman, the emergency is a painful case of wildfire déjà vu. In 2023, the Kookipi wildfire destroyed nearly all of his family’s Rio Rafting and Yoga Resort on the Nahatlatch river near Boston Bar. After rebuilding, Fogelman now finds himself facing another major wildfire threat. “So that was a terrible, tragic event, but this one also stacked on top three years later, (it’s) just another hit to the business,” he said. The latest evacuation has forced the resort to shut down for much of July, one of its busiest months of the year. So far, however, the property has avoided damage from the advancing flames. “We could use some rain,” Fogelman said. BC Wildfire Service officials say additional resources have been deployed to help protect structures threatened by the fires. “In terms of structure protection personnel, we have increased resource numbers to accommodate the increased fire behaviour within community areas,” Boyce said. Officials have not yet said how many structures may have been damaged. Adding to concerns is a changing weather pattern expected to bring stronger winds to the region. “With this pattern change, it’s also bringing unstable conditions so with that comes chance of gusty winds, showers and even isolated thunderstorms,” said Environment Canada meteorologist Janelle Gergely. Fogelman said he is grateful that he and his staff were able to get out safely, but the uncertainty surrounding the fire remains difficult. “Safety is our number one priority, but it’s heartbreaking,” he said. Officials have provided no timeline for when Highway 1 could reopen or when evacuation orders may be lifted. Emergency officials say the wildfire situation remains volatile as crews continue to battle the Brunswick Creek Complex fires.
