The 2021 British Columbia wildfires burned across the Canadian province of British Columbia. The severity of the 2021 wildfire season has been attributed to the combination of extreme heat, lower than normal rainfall, and "repeated severe thunderstorms and lightning events" by the BC Wildfire Service, all of which were exacerbated by human-caused climate change.
| 2021 British Columbia wildfires | |
|---|---|
Satellite imagery showing wildfires in British Columbia producing pyrocumulonimbus clouds spawning lightning strikes. | |
| Date(s) | Evacuations: 19th April 2021 |
| Location | British Columbia, Canada |
| Statistics | |
| Land use | Forest and residential |
| Impacts | |
| Deaths | 2 |
| Non-fatal injuries | Several |
| Structures destroyed | Unknown, Estimated 90% of Lytton, British Columbia destroyed in Lytton Creek fire, Village of Monte Lake destroyed and Paxton Valley destroyed |
| Damage | Unknown |
| Ignition | |
| Cause | Lightning and Human-Caused |
As of August 16, over 1,500 fires had been recorded according to the BC Wildfire Service. The Sparks Lake Fire was the largest fire burning in the province, having burned an estimated 95,980 hectares (237,172 acres) of the Bonaparte Plateau northwest of the city of Kamloops.
Development
A heat dome gripped the province of British Columbia, and much of Western North America, from June 25–30, 2021, increasing the risk of wildfires.
On June 30, the town of Lytton was evacuated due to a fire that destroyed most buildings and grew to over 300 square miles (780 km2) and sent people fleeing for their lives.
By July 1, 2021, almost 500 wildfires were burning across British Columbia. On July 20 the B.C. government declared a state of emergency.
Wildfires
The following is a list of fires that burned more than 405 ha (1,000 acres), or produced significant structural damage or casualties. More up to date information is available using this interactive map; BC Wildfire Service Map
| Name | Regional district | Hectares (acres) | Start date | Containment status | Notes | Ref |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| George Road Fire | Thompson-Nicola | 5,017 ha (12,400 acres) | June 16 | Being held | Human-caused | |
| Beatton River Fire | Peace River | 3,400 ha (8,400 acres) | June 28 | Under control | Lightning-caused | |
| Buckinghorse Fire | Peace River | 6,398 ha (15,810 acres) | June 28 | Under control | Lightning-caused | |
| Sparks Lake Fire | Thompson-Nicola | 89,627 ha (221,470 acres) | June 28 | Under control | Largest wildfire by area burned | |
| McKay Creek Fire | Squamish-Lillooet | 44,964 ha (111,110 acres) | June 29 | Under control | Suspected human-caused | |
| Minaker Fire | Peace River | 2,856 ha (7,060 acres) | June 29 | Under control | Lightning-caused | |
| Klawli Lake Fire | Bulkley-Nechako | 6,231 ha (15,400 acres) | June 30 | Under control | Lightning-caused | |
| Lytton Creek Fire | Thompson-Nicola | 83,740 ha (206,900 acres) | June 30 | Under control | Destroyed the village of Lytton; two confirmed casualties | |
| Mckinley Lake Fire | Cariboo | 1,835 ha (4,530 acres) | June 30 | Being held | Lightning-caused | |
| South of Canim Lake Fire | Cariboo | 3,049 ha (7,530 acres) | June 30 | Under control | Lightning-caused | |
| SW of Deka Lake Fire | Cariboo | 650 ha (1,600 acres) | June 30 | Under control | Lightning-caused | |
| Young Lake Fire | Thompson-Nicola | 7,453 ha (18,420 acres) | June 30 | Under control | Lightning-caused | |
| Chilako Fire | Bulkley-Nechako | 1,451 ha (3,590 acres) | July 1 | Under control | Lightning-caused | |
| Mount Porter Fire | Bulkley-Nechako | 13,659 ha (33,750 acres) | July 1 | Being held | Lightning-caused | |
| Succour Lake Fire | Cariboo | 1,600 ha (4,000 acres) | July 1 | Being held | Lightning-caused | |
| Tentfire Creek Fire | Peace River | 3,148 ha (7,780 acres) | July 1 | Being held | Lightning-caused | |
| Big Stick Lake Fire | Cariboo | 7,195 ha (17,780 acres) | July 2 | Under control | ||
| Black Pine Fire | Peace River | 16,314 ha (40,310 acres) | July 2 | Under control | Lightning-caused | |
| Churn Creek Protected Area Fire | Thompson-Nicola | 12,101 ha (29,900 acres) | July 2 | Being held | Lightning-caused | |
| Cultus Creek Fire | Central Kootenay | 2,665 ha (6,590 acres) | July 2 | Being held | Lightning-caused | |
| Cutoff Creek Fire | Bulkley-Nechako | 33,418 ha (82,580 acres) | July 2 | Being held | Lightning-caused | |
| Hotnarko Creek Fire | Central Coast | 1,500 ha (3,700 acres) | July 3 | Being held | Lightning-caused | |
| Forres Mountain Fire | Peace River | 8,700 ha (21,000 acres) | July 4 | Under control | Lightning-caused | |
| Purdy Lake Fire | Cariboo | 8,100 ha (20,000 acres) | July 5 | Under control | Lightning-caused | |
| Bunting Road Fire | North Okanagan | 5,204 ha (12,860 acres) | July 7 | Being held | ||
| Chief Louie Lake Fire | Bulkley-Nechako | 20,750 ha (51,300 acres) | July 7 | Being held | Lightning-caused | |
| Momich Lake Fire | Thompson-Nicola | 17,049 ha (42,130 acres) | July 7 | Under control | ||
| Flat Lake Fire | Thompson-Nicola | 74,194 ha (183,340 acres) | July 8 | Under control | Lightning-caused | |
| Akokli Creek Fire | Central Kootenay | 3,636 ha (8,980 acres) | July 9 | Being held | Lightning-caused | |
| Embleton Mountain Fire | Thompson-Nicola | 991 ha (2,450 acres) | July 9 | Under control | ||
| Hunakwa Lake Fire | Columbia-Shuswap | 3,601 ha (8,900 acres) | July 9 | Being held | Lightning-caused | |
| Mowhokam Creek Fire | Thompson-Nicola | 5,097 ha (12,590 acres) | July 9 | Being held | Lightning-caused | |
| Trozzo Creek Fire | Central Kootenay | 5,992 ha (14,810 acres) | July 9 | Under control | Lightning-caused | |
| Bill Nye Mountain Fire | East Kootenay | 2,990 ha (7,400 acres) | July 10 | Being held | Lightning-caused | |
| Crazy Creek Gorge FSR Fire | Columbia-Shuswap | 4,389 ha (10,850 acres) | July 10 | Being held | Lightning-caused | |
| Grizzly Lake Fire | Bulkley-Nechako | 4,891 ha (12,090 acres) | July 10 | Under control | Lightning-caused | |
| Michaud Creek Fire | Central Kootenay | 14,032 ha (34,670 acres) | July 10 | Being held | Lightning-caused | |
| Thomas Creek Fire | Okanagan-Similkameen | 10,597 ha (26,190 acres) | July 11 | Being held | ||
| Three Valley Lake Fire | Columbia-Shuswap | 498 ha (1,230 acres) | July 11 | Under control | ||
| Tremont Creek Fire | Thompson-Nicola | 62,524 ha (154,500 acres) | July 12 | Under control | ||
| Chasm Fire | Thompson-Nicola | 454 ha (1,120 acres) | July 13 | Under control | Lightning-caused | |
| July Mountain Fire | Thompson-Nicola | 19,080 ha (47,100 acres) | July 13 | Being held | Lightning-caused; merged with Brook Creek Fire | |
| White Rock Lake Fire | Thompson-Nicola | 81,483 ha (201,350 acres) | July 13 | Being held | Lightning-caused. Destroyed the village of Monte Lake; part of the city of Kamloops placed under evacuation order, firefighter injured after falling several meters. | |
| Brenda Creek Fire | Central Okanagan | 824 ha (2,040 acres) | July 14 | Under control | ||
| Octopus Creek Fire | Central Kootenay | 22,049 ha (54,480 acres) | July 14 | Being held | Lightning-caused | |
| Nk'Mip Creek Fire | Okanagan-Similkameen | 19,335 ha (47,780 acres) | July 19 | Being held | ||
| Two Mile Road Fire | Columbia-Shuswap | 2,455 ha (6,070 acres) | July 20 | Being held | ||
| Garrison Lake Fire | Okanagan-Similkameen | 14,564 ha (35,990 acres) | July 23 | Being held | ||
| Pine River Fire | Peace River | 2,542 ha (6,280 acres) | August 13 | Being held | ||
| Mt Law Fire | Okanagan-Similkameen | 976 ha (2,410 acres) | August 15 | Under control | Suspected human-caused. Parts of West Kelowna evacuated. |
See also
- List of disasters in Canada
- 2021 Western North America heat wave
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