On Sunday, August 3, 2025, a helicopter was seen collecting water near Cameron Lake, just off Highway 4, as efforts continued to control the Wesley Ridge wildfire burning close to Coombs, B.C. The Canadian Press
Light rain and higher humidity have slowed down wildfire activity in British Columbia. Some evacuees have returned to their homes on Vancouver Island and in the Fraser Canyon. This brief relief, however, may not last for long.
Heat on the Way
Fire crews are preparing for another wave of heat. The weather is expected to dry out and get hotter again, especially in the southern half of the province.
“There is no place in B.C. this year, and frankly, probably any year, that is going to be safe from the threat of wildfires,” said Cliff Chapman, wildfire operations director.
He added that no region in the province is completely safe, even as the season moves into late August and September.
Some Regions Still At Risk
The northeast part of the province has missed the rainfall. This area has seen the worst fires in past seasons and continues to face danger.
Even where rain fell, it wasn’t enough to lower the risk completely.
“It resets our conditions, but only at a very micro scale,” Chapman said. “It gives us the ability to do that, but it doesn't knock down the hazard for the whole province for the rest of the fire season.”
B.C. hasn’t seen a major rainfall event that could end the fire season. Firefighters are still relying on seasonal changes like fall weather to ease the situation.
Number of Fires Still High
Around 120 wildfires are still burning. That’s double last week’s count. A mix of lightning and dry weather sparked many new fires.
Despite that, crews have made progress. Around 160 fires have been declared out this past week.
Evacuations Lifted in Some Areas
More than 100 properties near Cameron Lake on Vancouver Island are no longer under evacuation orders. People have started returning home. Some alerts near Lytton were also removed.
The Lytton First Nation lifted its order after crews managed to hold the Cantilever Bar wildfire. Other local communities also ended their alerts.
Still, a few alerts remain in place. One from the Skuppah Indian Band is still active, but updates were not available.
Most evacuations are linked to the Wesley Ridge fire. That fire continues to burn near Cameron Lake, about 60 km from Nanaimo.
Late Wednesday, officials lifted about a third of the area’s evacuation orders.
“Our first priority is getting residents home as soon as it is safe,” said the local district.
Firefighters Making Progress
Cooler weather helped crews make progress.
Fire officer Madison Dahl said helicopters flew at night to monitor fire movement. Crews on the ground have also been working hard.
About 1.4 mm of rain fell Tuesday. That helped reduce fire activity near homes.
“They’ve made excellent progress,” said Dahl. Around 185 firefighters are working in the area.
The fire is believed to be human-caused, and an investigation is underway.
More Heat Coming
Temperatures are expected to rise again. Forecasts show highs of 29°C on Saturday and 33°C on Sunday.
Stay Ready, Minister Warns
Emergency Management Minister Kelly Greene urged people to stay alert.
“We know that we still have challenging weeks ahead,” she said. “The province remains committed to supporting people.”
