Wildfire activity jumps again overnight after lightning strikes across B.C.

A helicopter drops water while fighting the Brunswick Creek wildfire in Boston Bar, B.C., on Thursday, July 9, 2026. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck

The number of active wildfires in British Columbia spiked for a second straight day after thunderstorms rolled through parts of the province’s south overnight.

The BC Wildfire Service says there are about 50 active wildfires in the province, up from around 30 a day earlier, with about 27 new blazes started in the last 24 hours.

The jump comes after lightning overnight in Metro Vancouver and B.C.’s southern Interior, and this morning on Vancouver Island and in the Kootenay region.

Hundreds of homes remain under evacuation orders and alerts at several locations across the province, including in Boston Bar, where nearby fires have grown to just over 201 square kilometres in size.

Pemberton, located about 30 kilometres north of Whistler, also remains under evacuation orders and alerts, with crews working through the night to combat a fire burning within a few kilometres of the community.

Emily Fardad with the BC Wildfire Service has said crews made progress on the blaze near Pemberton and winds are not blowing flames toward the town of 3,400 residents.

Fardad said no structures were at risk, and officials don’t expect changes to the evacuation orders and alerts already in place, despite visible flames and smoke.

Officials this week issued an evacuation order for One Mile Lake Park, while other parts of the village and surrounding area were placed under evacuation alert.

Fire officials had warned of a possible spike in wildfire activity over the last two days due to expected lightning strikes, as well as warm weather creating very dry conditions that provide ample fuel for fires.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published July 17, 2026.