Thursday was another hazy day across the Fraser Canyon as smoke from the Anderson Creek wildfire continues to impact the region.
The fire was ignited Tuesday along Highway 1, two kilometres south of Boston Bar. It has since exploded in size, reaching more than 5,700 hectares, and is considered to be out of control.
The hot and dry conditions, combined with heavy winds, pose a challenge for firefighters.
“The heavy smoke keeps the sun from heating up the fuels, less oxygen for the fire to burn. So that kept fire behaviour down,” said BC Wildfire Service (BCWS) information officer Gordon Robinson.
“[Around] 5 p.m. yesterday, the smoke cleared, and behaviour rapidly increased…the weather is not going to be doing us any favours in the short term here.”
Blaine Kimber and Leeanne Smith evacuated from Boston Bar last week and have since taken refuge at the Emory Creek Campground.
“We are comfortable because we are used to camping, and we have a camper, which is a big help, and we are not in a tent,” Kimber said.
Even though they have found temporary comfort by the water, their minds are still back home, where the fates of their house and animals remain unknown.
“[We have] 30 chickens, turkeys, rabbits, baby bunnies…they need us,” Smith said.
“We have a friend who was going to turn our sprinkler on to help with burning embers. He checks to make sure nobody is thieving — there’s that sort of thing too, which is sad.”
Meanwhile, back in Boston Bar, the owner of the newly opened Lotus Hideaway has been making trips back and forth to make sure the firefighters are fed.
“They were sleeping outside, literally on the ground with no beds or anything, and they also had no food,” said Desiree Ounpuu.
“So I went to the restaurant, grabbed all my sandwiches, fruits, pastas…whatever I could find, and packed up three coolers. They should be OK for a couple days, I hope.”
The Fraser Valley Regional District warns that the Boston Bar water system may need to be shut down to protect critical infrastructure. Anyone remaining in the evacuation zone must follow water conservation restrictions.