North end of the Bonanza Creek wildfire, looking south, on Sept. 2. (Image Credit: BC Wildfire Service)

By Aaron Schulze

Big Bar Complex of Wildfires

Massive wildfires near Clinton, South Cariboo classified as ‘being held’

Sep 5, 2026 | 12:40 PM

CLINTON, B.C. — The massive wildfires that forced the evacuation of the Village of Clinton, the surrounding area and other portions of the South Cariboo are now classified as “being held.”

In an update shortly before noon Saturday (Sept. 5), the BC Wildfire Service says the Pear Lake wildfire is projected to remain within its current perimeter of 165,909.4 hectares, based on fuel and weather conditions and resource availability.

“Aerial infrared scanning is being used to identify hotspots, and crews are using the data to locate and extinguish remaining heat, reducing the potential for flare-ups in unburnt fuel pockets within the perimeter,” the wildfire service states. “If hotspots are not fully extinguished along the fire’s edge, they can reignite when hotter and drier conditions return.

“Because of this, operational objectives often remain consistent for days at a time, as crews work to ensure these edges are completely cool before moving on to other areas.”

The change in status comes two days after the service removed the Pear Lake wildfire as a fire of note.

Week in Review

Week in Review: Week of August 31, 2026

4h ago

Two & Out

PETERS: Did council take middle ground or refuse to make a decision on Upper Sahali proposal?

Sep 04, 2026

Looped In

LOOPED IN WITH NIKKI OMEN: September 3, 2026

Sep 03, 2026

Demobilization is also ongoing in areas where residents have returned home. However, the wildfire service warns residents that smoke will remain visible inside the Pear Lake fire’s perimeter as isolated pockets of fuel burn.

Residents are still asked to avoid areas impacted by the Pear Lake wildfire as the service says there’s an increased risk of destabilized trees falling in the wind.

Some evacuation orders and alerts issued by the TNRD, Squamish Lillooet Regional District, Whispering Pines/Clinton Indian Band, Stswecem’c Xget’tem First Nation and Ts’kw’aylaxw First Nation are still in effect.

An incident management team is still assigned to the Pear Lake fire. They’re accompanied by 312 firefighters, five structure protection personnel, 43 pieces of heavy equipment and 10 helicopters.

The Pear Lake fire is suspected to be caused by lightning.

Elsewhere within the Big Bar Complex, the French Bar Creek and Bonanza Creek wildfires are also classified as being held at 61,786 and 34,992 hectares, respectively.

The wildfire service says the Bonanza Creek fire site received about 37 millimetres of precipitation over the past 24 hours, and fire behaviour is expected to remain low in the short-term.

Fire behaviour is also expected to remain low at the French Bar Creek wildfire site due to recent moisture and cooler temperatures.

by Aaron Schulze

Click here to report an error or typo in this article

Massive wildfires near Clinton, South Cariboo classified as ‘being held’

Our Community