Pear Lake wildfire as of the BC Wildfire Service's Aug. 3 update. (Image Credit: BC Wildfire Service)

By Aaron Schulze

Pear Lake Wildfire

Winds expected to increase fire activity near massive Clinton-area wildfire

Aug 7, 2026 | 8:52 AM

CLINTON, B.C. — The BC Wildfire Service is warning of potential increase in fire behaviour on the mammoth Pear Lake wildfire near Clinton through the weekend.

In an update late Thursday (Aug. 6) evening, the wildfire service said winds are expected to pick up and clear smoke that had previously been sheltering the fire from the sun.

“We are shifting from a stable to an unstable pattern… bringing gusty, erratic winds and the potential for dry lightning,” the wildfire service states. “This week the fire grew [one-to-three] 3 kilometres per day in smoky, calm conditions. As conditions worsen, we expect aggressive behaviour and significant growth in the northwest, along the south flank and areas where containment lines continue to be challenged.”

The warning comes as Llenllenéy’ten (High Bar First Nation) issued an evacuation order for reserve lands near the Pear Lake wildfire Thursday. It’s in addition to other evacuation orders and alerts placed from the Village of Clinton, the Cariboo, Squamish-Lillooet and Thompson-Nicola Regional Districts, Bonaparte First Nation, Whispering Pines/Clinton Indian Band, Stswecem’c Xget’tem First Nation and Ts’kw’aylaxw First Nation.

Meantime, the wildfire service says crews are still working to prevent future spread within the Village of Clinton by bolstering control lines, extinguishing hotspots and removing fuels that are still available to burn.

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“The hand ignitions completed west of the rail tracks in Clinton helped to further secure the perimeter on the west side of the village,” the wildfire service states. “This successful operation brought the fire perimeter to an established control line, where crews can now work safely along a continuous edge. Today, crews mopped up along the fire’s edge to extinguish lingering heat and limit the potential for further spread.”

The wildfire service adds containment lines are continuing to hold on the north flank on either side of Highway 97 from 70 Mile to Meadow Lake in the west and to Clinton-Loon Lake FSR in the east. Crews are continuing to mop up along the fire’s north edge to extinguish lingering heat.

Highway 97 from south of Clinton to the 70 Mile area remains closed due to the Pear Lake wildfire. Drivers are still being asked to take a detour via Highway 1 from Cache Creek to Kamloops, Highway 5 North from Kamloops to Little Fort and Highway 24 from Little Fort to the 100 Mile area.

The Pear Lake wildfire, which is suspected to be caused by lightning, is measured at around 132,598 hectares (1,326 square kilometres) in size.

by Aaron Schulze

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Winds expected to increase fire activity near massive Clinton-area wildfire

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