Wildfire risk high as campfires banned across B.C. starting noon Thursday

Campfires will be banned in British Columbia starting at noon Thursday, as the wildfire risk remains high or extreme for most of the province and numerous out-of-control blazes continue to burn.

The fire prohibition comes weeks after large open fires were banned across the province, and amid heightened fire activity.

Five wildfires of note are burning across B.C. as of 9 a.m. Thursday, with those fires considered particularly visible or posing a threat to public safety.

On Vancouver Island, the Cameron Bluffs fire east of Port Alberni has shut down Highway 4 indefinitely, with the Transportation Ministry saying it is likely the closure will last even after the fire is extinguished due to road damage and the instability of the slope above the fire.

A long detour, which extends travel time by more than four hours, is now in place. The communities of Tofino, Ucluelet and Port Alberni relied on Highway 4 for essential supplies, and authorities say only essential travel should be undertaken due to the fires.

Smoke from the blazes across the province led to air quality advisories and smoky sky bulletins for parts of Vancouver Island, the South Coast and northeast B.C. on Wednesday.

In the Peace River region, the Donnie Creek blaze — one of the largest in B.C.'s history — has now charred an area larger than the entire Metro Vancouver region.

The provincial fire danger map shows most of B.C. sitting at a high or extreme fire risk due to high temperatures and drought.

Starting at noon Thursday, campfires will be banned across B.C. except on Haida Gwaii and in the southeast and northwest corners of the province.

Campfires include all fires smaller than half a metre in size. The bans do not include the use of outdoor stoves but do prohibit the use of fireworks, sky lanterns and tiki torches.

Evacuation orders and alerts also remain in place, primarily in northeast B.C. near the Alberta border.

As of 9 a.m. Thursday, 81 fires were burning across B.C. and 29 of them were not responding to suppression efforts.

Showers likely for some areas Friday

Environment Canada says showers are likely across southern parts of the province on Friday, possibly bringing as much as 10 millimetres of rain to the Squamish, Sechelt, Metro Vancouver and Fraser Valley regions before the sun and heat return on the weekend.

However, no rain is forecast in parts of parched northeastern B.C. until at least next week and the forecast shows temperatures should remain well above average through the weekend, meaning no respite from smoky conditions or aid for crews battling several large wildfires in the area.