An out-of-control wildfire in British Columbia's steep Fraser Canyon forced authorities to close a section of Highway 1 on Tuesday, July 7, 2026.
The expanding flames placed 146 properties under mandatory evacuation orders.
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The 1,800-hectare Brunswick Complex fire prompted DriveBC to shut down a 10.5-kilometer stretch of the highway between Boston Bar Station Road and Ainslie Road North shortly before 4:00 p.
m.
Thick smoke, high winds, and inaccessible terrain have hindered firefighting operations.
More than 100 personnel, seven heavy machinery units, and 12 helicopters—including two with night vision capabilities—are actively battling the blaze.
Officials with the B. C.
Wildfire Service reported that the complex includes the newly active Ainslie Creek fire, which reached 695 hectares by Tuesday evening.
Hot and dry conditions are expected to fuel further expansion.
Evacuations and Alerts
The evacuation orders heavily impact the North Bend and Fishblue Lake areas within the Fraser Valley Regional District.
Also affected are the Boothroyd Indian Band and the Boston Bar First Nation.
An additional 200 properties remain on high alert.
“I would encourage all folks in that area to be on high alert, and, of course, to have their go-bags ready in case an alert order comes forward,” said B.
C. Forests Minister Ravi Parmar.
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The minister noted that regional governments would handle any subsequent notices as local conditions evolved throughout the evening.
