A planned ignition for the Pear Lake wildfire in B.C.'s Cariboo region burns in this Wednesday, July 29, 2026 handout photo. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Handout, B.C. Wildfire Service (Mandatory Credit)
Cold front could escalate B.C. wildfires ahead of August long weekend
Aug 1, 2026 | 3:00 AM
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Crews battling multiple wildfires across southern British Columbia are preparing for potentially aggressive fire behaviour as a cold front brings strong winds and thunderstorms, with little to no rain, to a region where flames already threaten several communities.
An update Saturday on the 900-square-kilometre Pear Lake fire says winds could gust as high was 45 km/h as the cold front passes over the fire late in the afternoon.
It says where the fire has crossed Highway 97, east of Clinton, B.C., flames are burning in the scar of an old fire, which is helping, but drought means that other areas are tinder-dry.
A large swath of evacuation orders has been issued by the Thompson-Nicola and Cariboo regional districts.
