A firefighter battles the Mine Creek wildfire near Hope and Merritt, B.C., in this photo taken on Tuesday, Sept. 9, 2025. BC Wildfire Service.
The B.C. Wildfire Service warns that fire season will continue into the fall as many areas remain at risk of new wildfires. The Cariboo region and southwestern Interior are especially vulnerable right now.
While thunderstorms and lightning usually decrease with the arrival of fall, the land stays dry. This dryness means human-caused fires could still start easily, officials say.
Stormy weather needed to ease danger
The wildfire danger level won’t drop until the weather changes to a typical fall pattern. That means more storms and heavy rain, especially in the Prince George and Kamloops fire centres.
B.C. has faced a heat wave this week, breaking daily temperature records on both the coast and in the Interior. This heat, combined with ongoing drought, has made the wildfire risk even higher.
Current wildfire activity
At present, about 125 wildfires burn across B.C. Eight new fires started in the past day, while nine others have been declared out.
The Wildfire Service advises everyone to be ready for wildfire risks this fall, especially given the record heat and dry conditions.
Burning restrictions still in place
Open-burning bans remain across the province. Campfire prohibitions are also active in the Cariboo, Prince George, Kamloops fire centres, and parts of the Coastal fire centre.
Officials remind people to follow these rules to prevent new fires from starting.
Smoke may affect some areas
People living in northern Interior B.C. might notice hazy skies soon because of nearby fires in the Cariboo region. The Lower Mainland and South Okanagan could also see some smoke drifting in from wildfires burning in the United States.
The Wildfire Service will continue to monitor conditions closely as the fire season stretches on.
