Residents struggle to cope as wildfires prompt evacuation orders near Boston Bar
Posted July 10, 2026 8:03 am.
Last Updated July 10, 2026 8:04 am.
Evacuations continue in the Fraser Canyon as the Brunswick Wildfire Complex continues to bear down on communities north of Hope.
The complex consists of two blazes: the Brunswick Creek and Ainslie Creek wildfires. Both are burning out of control on either side of the canyon, and officials fear they may converge on the communities at the bottom of the valley.
The Brunswick Creek fire was the first blaze, discovered on July 2. It then sparked the Ainslie Creek wildfire, which quickly eclipsed it in terms of size and danger.
Ainslie’s blaze has been growing exponentially due to heavy winds and very dry conditions, doubling in size Wednesday to 170 square kilometres.
Some buildings are already confirmed to be destroyed, and about 10 km of Highway 1 through the area remains closed.
Several small communities in the area not too far south of Lytton have been ordered to evacuate, while many others are on alert, with evacuation alerts now extending north almost all the way to Merritt.
In Boston Bar, which is under an alert, some citizens have come back to try to help those who are hoping to evacuate.
Ene Baziuk, assistant manager for Canyon Tire, says he came back once to the area to get supplies, but also to help people who were still there.
“There are a lot of people wanting to bug out, and not all of them have tires, and also I did some repairs for some emergency services people here, because everybody can get a flat around here,” Baziuk said.
“The biggest worry around here is we kind of know that it’s going in the direction away from the buildings, but the wind could change at any time, and all it would take is for one good day of wind in the wrong direction, and everything you see around here will be gone.”
Crews are currently in the area trying to fireproof homes. BC Wildfire Service says they have just over a dozen helicopters responding to this incident and more than 200 wildland firefighters working around the clock to try to rein this fire in.
A lot of people who have been evacuated ended up down at a center in Chilliwack. CityNews spoke with some of them Thursday, and they said they’re overwhelmed by the fear of losing their homes.
“It’s awful when you leave. I didn’t want to be there, but I didn’t want to leave, because now I don’t know anything,” said Christina Leo, an evacuated resident of Boston Bar.
“It’s hard to get any information on what’s burned, what hasn’t. That’s the worst part: not knowing if I have a home to go back to. If you’ve never experienced it, just know it’s really, really challenging, and it’s an emotional roller coaster, but prayers will always help.”
Others said a number of residents actually stayed behind in the evacuation zones — some because they couldn’t leave their animals behind, others who didn’t have insurance and wanted to stay behind to try to fight the fire and protect their properties.
The Fraser Valley Regional District is imploring everybody to follow orders, saying it doesn’t just put those people staying behind at risk, but it also puts those first responders who may have to rescue them at risk, too.
