High winds in forecast pose looming fire threat, B.C. Wildfire Service says, as heat wave peaks

The latest:

• Seasonal temperatures are expected to returnto southern B.C. starting Thursday, but wildfire officials say incoming winds will increase fire risk.
• Some residents west of Lillooet and near Keremeos were placed on evacuation order due to expanding wildfires.
• Evacuation alerts were expanded in relation to the Lower East Adams Lake fire, 21 kilometres north of Chase.
• Some southeastern areas are experiencing dense smoke and falling ash, the B.C. Wildfire Service said.
• 19 daily heat records were broken on Tuesday, including a high of 42.2 C in Lytton, according to Environment Canada.

Wildfire crews in British Columbia are bracing for anincoming weather system expected to bring strong winds and drylightning by Thursday, but conditions are already flaring in atleast two areas of the province.

The Regional District of Okanagan-Similkameen has issued anevacuation order for the area southwest of Keremeos affected by twowildfires that have been burning for several weeks.

Thirteen properties have been ordered evacuated along the AshnolaRiver and in the Snowy Protected area of Cathedral Provincial Park,including Cathedral Lakes Lodge.

B.C. wildfire forecaster 'very concerned' about the days ahead

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Neal McLoughlin says he's worried this week's record-breaking temperatures combined with forecasts of high wind and dry lightning will lead to the rapid growth of more wildfires in southern B.C.

Approximately 150 people had been told to shelter in place at the lodge. On Wednesday afternoon, officials said everyone from the lodge and surrounding area had been successfully rescued.

An emergency support services reception centre hasbeen activated at the Village of Keremeos Victory Hall.

Residents in 74 other properties along the Similkameen River westof Keremeos must be ready to leave because of increased activity at what the B.C. Wildfire Service is now calling theCrater Creek wildfire,two fires burning close together that have since combined.

Evacuation orders were also renewed late Tuesday for twoproperties close to the 46-square-kilometre Casper Creek wildfirenear the communities of Shalath andSeton-Portage, west of Lillooet, which has been burning since early July.

The Squamish-Lillooet Regional District says strong winds fannedthat fire, forcing the evacuations, the closure of Mission MountainRoad and evacuation alerts for properties on both sides of thewestern end of Seton Lake and the north shore of Anderson Lake.

More stories on wildfires andheat:

• More than 100 people weretrapped in a guesthouse west of Keremeos as the Crater Creek wildfire hasoff the sole evacuation route, but have since been freed.
• Residents in Kelowna are marking 20 years since a wildfire destroyed 240 homes.
• Parts of Yellowknife are under evacuation alert as wildfire threatens the city.
• Scorching temperatures are putting workers at risk, prompting calls for new measures to cool down worksites.
• A Pacific marine heat wave has arrived in B.C. waters. Here's what it means for ocean life.
• Wildfires often ignite a firestorm of conspiracy theories, with the aftermath of disaster presenting a unique opportunity for rumours and false narratives to spread, experts say.
• Get the news you need without restrictions. Download our free CBC News App.

Holding pattern on Gun Lake orders

On Wednesday, the ColumbiaShuswap Regional District expanded evacuation alerts for the community of Scotch Creek, Lee Creek and communities north ofthe Adams Lake Ferry Terminal due to the Lower Adams Lake East wildfire.

The fire, burning in the KamloopsFire Centre area, about 21 kilometres north of Chase, B.C., is now 10 square kilometres in size and has been burning out of control since July 12.

The B.C. Wildfire Service (BCWS) website says it wasclose to liftingevacuation orders covering more than 200 properties around Gun Lake,north of Pemberton, where the 26-square-kilometre Downton Lake firehas destroyed three properties, but those plans have been stalled because of the incoming wind andpotential lightning.

Roughly 370 wildfires are burning in the province, 145 of which areconsidered out of control and 11 of which are fires of note,meaning they are highly visible or threaten people or property.

The wildfire danger rating has climbed to high or extreme acrossthe southern third of the province and a large section of thecentral Interior as an ongoing heat wave brings sweltering temperatures tothose regions.

This season has been B.C.'sworst wildfire season to date interms of area burned, with more than 1,700 wildfires charring about16,000 square kilometres so far this year.

On Wednesday the BCWS said some parts of the southeastern B.C. were seeing increased smoke from wildfires and others were experiencing falling ash.

On Wednesday, in addition to the southeast, parts of the Cariboo, East Columbia, West Columbia, Nicola, and Stuart-Nechako regions were under a smoky skies bulletin.

Heat records fall

Another 19 daily temperature records were broken on Tuesday, according to Environment Canada,including a countrywide high mark of 42.2 C in Lytton.

The weather agency said several other communities in B.C. broke the 40 C barrier, including Ashcroft, Lillooet, Pemberton and Warfield near Trail.

Both Kelowna and Kamloops hit new daily highs Tuesday at 38.6 C and 39.6 C, respectively, with theKamloopsmark breaking a record going back to 1967.

Environment Canada meteorologist Greg Walters said the high temperatures were all related to an extremely warm air mass over the province.

"The records that have been broken, some of themgo back quite a ways," he said. "It's certainly a significant event for this time of year."

Walters said the forecast shows a return to more seasonal temperatures across the province, which means highs 5-7 Ccooler on Friday.

Anyoneplacedunderanevacuationordershouldleavetheareaimmediately.

Evacuationcentreshavebeensetupthroughouttheprovincetoassistanyoneevacuatingfrom acommunityunderthreatfrom awildfire.

Tofindthecentreclosesttoyou,visittheEmergencyInfoBCwebsite.

Evacuees are encouraged to register withEmergencySupport Servicesonline, whether or not they access services at anevacuationcentre.

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