2021 British Columbia wildfires
Satellite imagery showing wildfires in British Columbia producing pyrocumulonimbus clouds spawning lightning strikes.
LocationBritish Columbia, Canada
Statistics
CostUnknown
Date(s)Evacuations:
CauseLightning and Human-Caused
Land useForest and residential
Buildings destroyed
Unknown,
Estimated 90% of Lytton, British Columbia destroyed in Lytton Creek fire,[1] Village of Monte Lake destroyed and Paxton Valley destroyed
Deaths2
Non-fatal injuriesSeveral
Season
← 2020
2022 →

The 2021 British Columbia wildfires burned across the Canadian province of British Columbia. The severity of the 2021 wildfire season is believed to have been caused by a "perfect storm" of environmental factors possibly exacerbated by human-caused climate change.[2][3]

As of August 16, over 1,500 fires had been recorded according to the BC Wildfire Service.[4] The Sparks Lake Fire was the largest fire burning in the province, having burned an estimated 95,980 hectares (237,172 acres) of the Bonaparte Plateau northwest of the city of Kamloops.[5][6][7][8]

Development

A heat dome gripped the province of British Columbia, and much of Western North America, from June 25–30, 2021, increasing the risk of wildfires.[9]

On June 30, the town of Lytton was evacuated due to a fire that destroyed most buildings and grew to over 300 square miles (780 km2)[10][11] and sent people fleeing for their lives.

By July 1, 2021, almost 500 wildfires were burning across British Columbia. On July 20 the B.C. government declared a state of emergency.[12]

Wildfires

The following is a list of fires that burned more than 405 ha (1,000 acres), or produced significant structural damage or casualties. More up to date information is available using this interactive map; BC Wildfire Service Map

List of fires over 400 hectares (1,000 acres)
Name Regional district Hectares (acres) Start date Containment status Notes Ref
George Road Fire Thompson-Nicola 5,017 ha (12,400 acres) June 16 Being held Human-caused [13]
Beatton River Fire Peace River 3,400 ha (8,400 acres) June 28 Under control Lightning-caused [14]
Buckinghorse Fire Peace River 6,398 ha (15,810 acres) June 28 Under control Lightning-caused [15]
Sparks Lake Fire Thompson-Nicola 89,627 ha (221,470 acres) June 28 Under control Largest wildfire by area burned [16]
McKay Creek Fire Squamish-Lillooet 44,964 ha (111,110 acres) June 29 Under control Suspected human-caused [17]
Minaker Fire Peace River 2,856 ha (7,060 acres) June 29 Under control Lightning-caused [18]
Klawli Lake Fire Bulkley-Nechako 6,231 ha (15,400 acres) June 30 Under control Lightning-caused [19]
Lytton Creek Fire Thompson-Nicola 83,740 ha (206,900 acres) June 30 Under control Destroyed the village of Lytton; two confirmed casualties [20]
Mckinley Lake Fire Cariboo 1,835 ha (4,530 acres) June 30 Being held Lightning-caused [21]
South of Canim Lake Fire Cariboo 3,049 ha (7,530 acres) June 30 Under control Lightning-caused [22]
SW of Deka Lake Fire Cariboo 650 ha (1,600 acres) June 30 Under control Lightning-caused [23]
Young Lake Fire Thompson-Nicola 7,453 ha (18,420 acres) June 30 Under control Lightning-caused [24]
Chilako Fire Bulkley-Nechako 1,451 ha (3,590 acres) July 1 Under control Lightning-caused [25]
Mount Porter Fire Bulkley-Nechako 13,659 ha (33,750 acres) July 1 Being held Lightning-caused [26]
Succour Lake Fire Cariboo 1,600 ha (4,000 acres) July 1 Being held Lightning-caused [27]
Tentfire Creek Fire Peace River 3,148 ha (7,780 acres) July 1 Being held Lightning-caused [28]
Big Stick Lake Fire Cariboo 7,195 ha (17,780 acres) July 2 Under control [29]
Black Pine Fire Peace River 16,314 ha (40,310 acres) July 2 Under control Lightning-caused [30]
Churn Creek Protected Area Fire Thompson-Nicola 12,101 ha (29,900 acres) July 2 Being held Lightning-caused [31]
Cultus Creek Fire Central Kootenay 2,665 ha (6,590 acres) July 2 Being held Lightning-caused [32]
Cutoff Creek Fire Bulkley-Nechako 33,418 ha (82,580 acres) July 2 Being held Lightning-caused [33]
Hotnarko Creek Fire Central Coast 1,500 ha (3,700 acres) July 3 Being held Lightning-caused [34]
Forres Mountain Fire Peace River 8,700 ha (21,000 acres) July 4 Under control Lightning-caused [35]
Purdy Lake Fire Cariboo 8,100 ha (20,000 acres) July 5 Under control Lightning-caused [36]
Bunting Road Fire North Okanagan 5,204 ha (12,860 acres) July 7 Being held [37]
Chief Louie Lake Fire Bulkley-Nechako 20,750 ha (51,300 acres) July 7 Being held Lightning-caused [38]
Momich Lake Fire Thompson-Nicola 17,049 ha (42,130 acres) July 7 Under control [39]
Flat Lake Fire Thompson-Nicola 74,194 ha (183,340 acres) July 8 Under control Lightning-caused [40]
Akokli Creek Fire Central Kootenay 3,636 ha (8,980 acres) July 9 Being held Lightning-caused [41]
Embleton Mountain Fire Thompson-Nicola 991 ha (2,450 acres) July 9 Under control [42]
Hunakwa Lake Fire Columbia-Shuswap 3,601 ha (8,900 acres) July 9 Being held Lightning-caused [43]
Mowhokam Creek Fire Thompson-Nicola 5,097 ha (12,590 acres) July 9 Being held Lightning-caused [44]
Trozzo Creek Fire Central Kootenay 5,992 ha (14,810 acres) July 9 Under control Lightning-caused [45]
Bill Nye Mountain Fire East Kootenay 2,990 ha (7,400 acres) July 10 Being held Lightning-caused [46]
Crazy Creek Gorge FSR Fire Columbia-Shuswap 4,389 ha (10,850 acres) July 10 Being held Lightning-caused [47]
Grizzly Lake Fire Bulkley-Nechako 4,891 ha (12,090 acres) July 10 Under control Lightning-caused [48]
Michaud Creek Fire Central Kootenay 14,032 ha (34,670 acres) July 10 Being held Lightning-caused [49]
Thomas Creek Fire Okanagan-Similkameen 10,597 ha (26,190 acres) July 11 Being held [50]
Three Valley Lake Fire Columbia-Shuswap 498 ha (1,230 acres) July 11 Under control [51]
Tremont Creek Fire Thompson-Nicola 62,524 ha (154,500 acres) July 12 Under control [52]
Chasm Fire Thompson-Nicola 454 ha (1,120 acres) July 13 Under control Lightning-caused [53]
July Mountain Fire Thompson-Nicola 19,080 ha (47,100 acres) July 13 Being held Lightning-caused; merged with Brook Creek Fire [54]
White Rock Lake Fire Thompson-Nicola 81,483 ha (201,350 acres) July 13 Being held Lightning-caused. Destroyed the village of Monte Lake; part of the city of Kamloops placed under evacuation order, firefighter injured after falling several meters. [55][56]
Brenda Creek Fire Central Okanagan 824 ha (2,040 acres) July 14 Under control [57]
Octopus Creek Fire Central Kootenay 22,049 ha (54,480 acres) July 14 Being held Lightning-caused [58]
Nk'Mip Creek Fire Okanagan-Similkameen 19,335 ha (47,780 acres) July 19 Being held [59]
Two Mile Road Fire Columbia-Shuswap 2,455 ha (6,070 acres) July 20 Being held [60]
Garrison Lake Fire Okanagan-Similkameen 14,564 ha (35,990 acres) July 23 Being held [61]
Pine River Fire Peace River 2,542 ha (6,280 acres) August 13 Being held [62]
Mt Law Fire Okanagan-Similkameen 976 ha (2,410 acres) August 15 Under control Suspected human-caused. Parts of West Kelowna evacuated. [63]

References

  1. ↑ Nassar, Hana Mae; Gul, Monika; James, Paul (1 July 2021). "'The situation is very, very dire': 90 per cent of Lytton burned, says BC MP". CKWX. Retrieved 2 July 2021.
  2. ↑ "What you need to know about B.C. wildfires for Aug. 12". CBC News. 2020-08-12. Retrieved 2020-08-16.
  3. ↑ "Canada's BC declares state of emergency as wildfires surge". www.aljazeera.com. Retrieved 2021-08-17.
  4. ↑ "BC Wildfire Dashboard ArcGIS Dashboards". governmentofbc.maps.arcgis.com. Retrieved 2021-08-17.
  5. ↑ "Wildfires of Note". bcfireinfo.for.gov.bc.ca. Retrieved 2021-08-17.
  6. ↑ Peters, James (1 July 2021). "TNRD expands evacuation alerts near Sparks Lake wildfire". CFJC-TV. Archived from the original on 2021-07-01.
  7. ↑ "Sparks Lake fire now estimated at 200 square kilometres in size". Kamloops This Week. 1 July 2021. Archived from the original on 2021-07-02.
  8. ↑ "Sparks Lake wildfire remains largest in B.C." Kamloops This Week. July 14, 2021.
  9. ↑ Eva Uguen-Csenge, Bethany Lindsay (29 June 2021). "For 3rd straight day, B.C. village smashes record for highest Canadian temperature at 49.6 C". CBC News. Archived from the original on 2021-06-30.
  10. ↑ Lindsay, Bethany; Dickson, Courtney (30 June 2021). "Village of Lytton, B.C., evacuated as mayor says 'the whole town is on fire'". CBC News. Archived from the original on 2021-06-30.
  11. ↑ Carrigg, David; Raptis, Mike; Bains, Camille; Brown, Scott (2 July 2021). "B.C. Wildfires: Search underway for Lytton residents missing after village engulfed by fire". Vancouver Sun. Archived from the original on 2021-07-01.
  12. ↑ "B.C. declares state of emergency as wildfires grow, forcing more evacuations". CBC News. 20 July 2021. Retrieved 21 July 2021.
  13. ↑ "Wildfires of Note George Road K70804". Government of British Columbia. Archived from the original on 2021-06-18.
  14. ↑ "Wildfires of Note Beatton River G81007". Government of British Columbia. Archived from the original on 2021-07-14.
  15. ↑ "Wildfires of Note G80997". Government of British Columbia. Archived from the original on 2021-07-09.
  16. ↑ "Wildfires of Note Sparks Lake K21001". Government of British Columbia. Archived from the original on 2021-06-30.
  17. ↑ "Wildfires of Note Mckay Creek (K71030)". Government of British Columbia. Archived from the original on 2021-07-02.
  18. ↑ "Wildfires of Note G91020". Government of British Columbia. Archived from the original on 2021-07-14.
  19. ↑ "Wildfires of Note Klawli Lake G61132". Government of British Columbia. Archived from the original on 2021-07-13.
  20. ↑ "Wildfires of Note Lytton Creek". Government of British Columbia. Archived from the original on 2021-07-02.
  21. ↑ "Wildfires of Note Mckinley Lake C31056". Government of British Columbia. Archived from the original on 2021-07-14.
  22. ↑ "Wildfires of Note South of Canim Lake C41100". Government of British Columbia. Archived from the original on 2021-07-14.
  23. ↑ "Wildfires of Note SW of Deka Lake C41102". Government of British Columbia. Archived from the original on 2021-07-02.
  24. ↑ "Wildfires of Note Young Lake C41097". Government of British Columbia. Archived from the original on 2021-07-15.
  25. ↑ "Wildfires of Note Chilako G11126". Government of British Columbia. Archived from the original on 2021-07-06.
  26. ↑ "Wildfires of Note Mount Porter G61192". Government of British Columbia. Archived from the original on 2021-07-13.
  27. ↑ "Wildfires of Note Succour Lake C41191". Government of British Columbia. Archived from the original on 2021-07-14.
  28. ↑ "Wildfires of Note Tentfire Creek G71138". Government of British Columbia. Archived from the original on 2021-07-06.
  29. ↑ "Wildfires of Note Big Stick Lake C51290". Government of British Columbia. Archived from the original on 2021-07-11.
  30. ↑ "Wildfires of Note Black Pine G61316". Government of British Columbia. Archived from the original on 2021-07-13.
  31. ↑ "Wildfires of Note Churn Creek Protected Area C21250". Government of British Columbia. Archived from the original on 2021-07-14.
  32. ↑ "Wildfires of Note Cultus Creek Modified Response N71245". Government of British Columbia. Archived from the original on 2021-07-25.
  33. ↑ "Wildfires of Note Cutoff Creek G41269". Government of British Columbia. Archived from the original on 2021-07-06.
  34. ↑ "Wildfires of Note Hotnarko Creek C51355". Government of British Columbia. Archived from the original on 2021-07-14.
  35. ↑ "Wildfires of Note Forres Mountain G61381". Government of British Columbia. Archived from the original on 2021-07-13.
  36. ↑ "Wildfires of Note Purdy Lake C11491". Government of British Columbia. Archived from the original on 2021-07-14.
  37. ↑ "Widlfires of Note Bunting Road K41561". Government of British Columbia. Archived from the original on 2021-07-20.
  38. ↑ "Wildfires of Note Chief Louie Lake R11562". Government of British Columbia. Archived from the original on 2021-07-18.
  39. ↑ "Wildfires of Note Momich Lake K21658". Government of British Columbia. Archived from the original on 2021-07-18.
  40. ↑ "Wildfires of Note Flat Lake C41602". Government of British Columbia. Archived from the original on 2021-07-14.
  41. ↑ "Wildfires of Note Akokli Creek N71686". Government of British Columbia. Archived from the original on 2021-07-17.
  42. ↑ "Wildfires of Note Embleton Mountain K21644". Government of British Columbia. Archived from the original on 2021-07-12.
  43. ↑ "Wildfires of Note Hunakwa Lake K41676". Government of British Columbia. Archived from the original on 2021-07-17.
  44. ↑ "Wildfires of Note Mowhokam Creek V11669". Government of British Columbia. Archived from the original on 2021-08-08.
  45. ↑ "Wildfires of Note Trozzo Creek N51705". Government of British Columbia. Archived from the original on 2021-07-18.
  46. ↑ "Wildfires of Note Bill Nye Mountain-MR N11629". Government of British Columbia. Archived from the original on 2021-07-17.
  47. ↑ "Wildfires of Note Crazy Creek Gorge FSR K41769". Government of British Columbia. Archived from the original on 2021-08-02.
  48. ↑ "Wildfires of Note Grizzly Lake G41711". Government of British Columbia. Archived from the original on 2021-07-15.
  49. ↑ "Wildfires of Note Michaud Creek N51765". Government of British Columbia. Archived from the original on 2021-07-17.
  50. ↑ "Wildfires of Note Thomas Creek K51794". Government of British Columbia. Archived from the original on 2021-07-13.
  51. ↑ "Wildfires of Note Three Valley Lake K41807". Government of British Columbia. Archived from the original on 2021-07-22.
  52. ↑ "Wildfires of Note Tremont Creek K21849". Government of British Columbia. Archived from the original on 2021-07-14.
  53. ↑ "Wildfires of Note Chasm C41866". Government of British Columbia. Archived from the original on 2021-07-18.
  54. ↑ "Widlfires of Note July Mountain K61882". Government of British Columbia. Archived from the original on 2021-07-20.
  55. ↑ "Wildfires of Note White Rock Lake K61884". Government of British Columbia. Archived from the original on 2021-07-18.
  56. ↑ "Firefighter injured after fall on White Rock Lake fire site". CFGC Today.
  57. ↑ "Wildfires of Note Brenda Creek K51924". Government of British Columbia. Archived from the original on 2021-07-18.
  58. ↑ "Wildfires of Note Octopus Creek N51800". Government of British Columbia. Archived from the original on 2021-07-17.
  59. ↑ "Wildfires of Note Nk'Mip Creek K52061". Government of British Columbia. Archived from the original on 2021-07-20.
  60. ↑ "Wildfires of Note Two Mile Road K42078". Government of British Columbia. Archived from the original on 2021-07-23.
  61. ↑ "Wildfires of Note Garrison Lake K62088". Government of British Columbia. Archived from the original on 2021-07-25.
  62. ↑ "Wildfires of Note Pine River G72591". Government of British Columbia. Archived from the original on 2021-08-18.
  63. ↑ "Wildfires of Note Mt Law KK52627". Government of British Columbia. Archived from the original on 2021-08-16.

See also

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