A First Nation near Boston Bar, B.C., issues evacuation order as wildfire grows

The out-of-control fire near Boston Bar, B.C., has triggered a second evacuation order following "significant overnight growth" and responders have requested additional resources. 

The Boothroyd Indian Band issued the order Sunday morning after the Fraser Valley Regional District had issued an evacuation order for residents living in the North Bend area. 

Officials detected the Brunswick Creek fire on July 2 and it has since grown to 100 hectares and is believed to have been sparked by human activity.

British Columbia's Forests Minister Ravi Parmar says on social media that BC Wildfire Service continues to support the local fire department with crews and equipment, including helicopters equipped with night vision. 

BC Wildfire says in its latest public update that three initial attack crews, two unit crews, and two response officers are responding to the fire, along with six helicopters for day use, and two groups of helicopters equipped with night vision. 

It has also requested an incident management team, along with additional resources and aviation support.

However, it also says that poor visibility and step terrain will limit the use of aviation services, adding that the safety of crews, pilots and public is top priority.

BC Wildfire Service also says that smoke has been highly visible in the area and has been seen as far away as the Merritt area.

Drive BC says that Highway 1, which runs through the area on the eastern side of the Fraser River, remains open, but two local roads on the eastern side of the river are closed in both directions. 

The two evacuation orders mainly cover areas along the western side of the Fraser River near Boston Bar, which lies on the eastern side of the river. 

But the orders also cover areas on the eastern shore of the river north of the community.

Officials have also issued an evacuation alert for the community itself, whose population is just under 200 people. 

BC Wildfire says it recommended the first evacuation order and the expanded alerts after high winds in the afternoon resulted in more extreme fire behaviour. 

This report by The Canadian Press was first published July 5, 2026.

By Wolfgang Depner | Copyright 2026, The Canadian Press. All rights reserved.