2021 British Columbia wildfires | |
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![]() Satellite imagery showing wildfires in British Columbia producing pyrocumulonimbus clouds spawning lightning strikes. | |
Date(s) | Evacuations: 19th April 2021 |
Location | British Columbia, Canada |
Statistics | |
Land use | Forest and residential |
Impacts | |
Deaths | 2 |
Non-fatal injuries | Several |
Structures destroyed | Unknown, Estimated 90% of Lytton, British Columbia destroyed in Lytton Creek fire,[1] Village of Monte Lake destroyed and Paxton Valley destroyed |
Damage | Unknown |
Ignition | |
Cause | Lightning and Human-Caused |
The 2021 British Columbia wildfires burned across the Canadian province of British Columbia. The severity of the 2021 wildfire season is believed[who?] 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]
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]
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
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] |