Image

Regional Wildfire Update: July 23, 2026

Posted:

The City of Kimberley, as well as 66 properties in the St Mary Lake area (Electoral Area E) remain under Evacuation ALERT at this time. The ALERT stage is the time to prepare your household as well as to reach out to those in your community to see how you can lend a hand. Learn more about alert stages HERE.

Below is your regional wildfire update for July 23, with information from the BC Wildfire Service:

N11020 – Matthew Creek

  • Effective 8:00 pm on July 19, 2026, an Evacuation ALERT has been issued for the City of Kimberley, including all properties within the municipal boundaries due to the Matthew Creek Wildfire. Details HERE
  • Estimated size - 869 ha
  • Resources: Incident Management Team, 35 firefighting personnel, 7 helicopters, 18 pieces of heavy equipment, and 21structural protection personnel. Learn more about wildfire resources by clicking HERE.
  • Fire behaviour: Similar fire behaviour to that observed yesterday is possible today, with increasing cloud cover and stronger sustained winds forecast. On the afternoon of July 22, fire behaviour increased as warmer temperatures, strengthening winds, and an abundance of dead and receptive fuels combined to create conditions more conducive to fire growth. Increased smoke production was observed and was visible throughout the surrounding area
  • There is potential for thunderstorms and lightning across the region today; however, little precipitation is expected
  • Winds are expected to gradually strengthen between today and Saturday ahead of a potential incoming cold front. Sustained winds today are forecast to increase to 15–22 km/h, with gusts reaching 30–40 km/h this afternoon
  • Initial Attack crews are constructing a helipad and developing a potential dip tank site to support ongoing suppression operations.
  • A bridge will be installed along the northern flank contingency guard to support fire suppression efforts. Delivery of bridge components and site preparation are scheduled for today, with bridge construction potentially beginning tomorrow
  • Along the Matthew Creek FSR, heavy equipment continues to reopen road access, while crews are assisting with the construction of control lines to support suppression activities
  • Heavy equipment continues to improve access and complete skidding operations along the contingency guard on the Mark Creek FSR
  • Structure Protection personnel are now deploying crews and equipment to protect identified structures and critical infrastructure
  • Helicopters continue to support ground operations by bucketing water to reduce fire activity and transporting personnel, equipment, and supplies as required

N10947 – Tower Creek #2 and N10944 – Tower Creek(Meachen Area)

  • Effective 8:00 pm on July 19, 2026, an Evacuation ALERT has been issued for 66 properties in the St. Mary Lake Area (Electoral Area E) due to the Tower Creek Wildfires. Details HERE
  • (N10947) Estimated size - 250 ha
  • (N10944) Estimated size – 12 ha
  • Resources: Incident Management Team, 7 helicopters, a structural protection unit. Learn more about wildfire resources by clicking HERE.
  • Fire behaviour: On the afternoon of July 22, fire behaviour increased as warmer temperatures, strengthening winds, and an abundance of dead and receptive fuels combined to create conditions more conducive to fire growth. Increased smoke production was observed and was visible throughout the surrounding area
  • Given the forecast weather conditions, including strengthening winds, there is potential for elevated fire behaviour and continued smoke production today
  • There is potential for thunderstorms and lightning across the region today; however, little precipitation is expected
  • Winds are expected to gradually strengthen between today and Saturday ahead of a potential incoming cold front. Sustained winds today are forecast to increase to 15–22 km/h, with gusts reaching 30–40 km/h this afternoon
  • Work is underway using indirect attack strategies. This is where crews and resources establish control lines away from the fire's edge rather than working directly on the perimeter
  • BC wildfire is identifying and flagging a potential alignment for a hand-built fuel-free control line that may be utilized to support suppression efforts
  • Structure Protection crews will be deploying equipment to identified priority values in the St Mary Lake area and values immediately east and west of the lake
  • Heavy equipment has reopened sections of a deactivated FSR that will act as a control line
  • Helicopters will continue to support suppression activities bucketing to cool fire activity

N11036 – Calamity Creek (South of the Purcell Wilderness Conservancy Provincial Park)

  • Estimated size - 70 ha

N21071 – Jumbo Creek

  • Estimated size – 22 ha

N11027 – Bootleg Mountain

  • This fire is currently listed as UNDER CONTROL

N10982 – Tower Creek #3 (Meachen Area)

  • This fire was previously listed as BEING HELD and has been removed from the BC Wildfire Map

N10943 – Meachen Creek

  • This fire was previously listed as BEING HELD and has been removed from the BC Wildfire Map

A great resource for preparing your household, as well as helping out your neighbours in the time of an Evacuation Alert can be found HERE

Evacuation ALERT means PREPARE NOW

Be prepared and make a plan; view preparedness tipsHERE.

The most up-to-date wildfire information is available atwww.bcwildfire.ca