DAILY INTELLIGENCE LOG

Structure Defence

British Columbia & Alberta

Saturday, July 25, 2026

Information current as of approximately 8:30 a.m. Pacific Time.

This report summarizes fresh authoritative public information available at the time of review. Wildfire status, evacuation boundaries, road conditions and restrictions can change quickly. Instructions from the responsible local government, First Nation, emergency authority or transportation agency always take priority.

────────────────────────────────────────

OPERATIONAL ASSESSMENT

BRITISH COLUMBIA REMAINS IN A MULTI-INCIDENT RESPONSE PERIOD

The most consequential development since yesterday is the expansion of the Pear Lake Evacuation Order across the Bonaparte Plateau.

The Thompson-Nicola Regional District expanded the Order Friday evening to approximately 131 addressed properties. The newly added area includes properties along Highway 97, materially increasing both community and transportation exposure.

Other significant conditions this morning include:

• Highway 1 remains closed through part of the Fraser Canyon wildfire area, with no confirmed reopening time.

• Multiple Evacuation Orders remain in effect around Boston Bar, North Bend, Hells Gate, Scuzzy Creek, Nahatlatch, Fishblue Lake and adjoining First Nations jurisdictions.

• Water service in Boston Bar and North Bend remains intermittent and prioritized partly for wildfire operations. Boil-water and Stage 4 conservation measures remain in effect when service is available.

• Kimberley and 66 St. Mary Lake properties remain under Evacuation Alert.

• Matthew Creek remains estimated at approximately 869 hectares, with contingency-line and access work continuing.

• Multiple Orders and Alerts remain active across the South Cariboo, Bonaparte Plateau, Lillooet Lake and South Chilcotin regions.

• Alberta continues to list no Wildfires of Note, although a new out-of-control wildfire is receiving an air-and-ground response north of Slave Lake.

Here’s what we know:

The current provincial picture is being driven by where active fires intersect with homes, highways, water systems and limited rural access—not by fire size alone.

Here’s what we’re watching:

Pear Lake’s movement toward the Highway 97 corridor, Fraser Canyon transportation and utility impacts, wind around Kimberley, and whether new lightning-related starts emerge during changing weather.

Here’s why it matters:

Several incidents are now creating simultaneous evacuation and access demands. A change affecting a highway, community water system or principal rural route can be operationally important even without a major increase in hectares.

────────────────────────────────────────

TODAY’S CONDITIONS

PEAR LAKE — BONAPARTE PLATEAU / HIGHWAY 97 CORRIDOR

Here’s what we know:

The Thompson-Nicola Regional District expanded the Pear Lake Evacuation Order at 7:30 p.m. Friday.

The current TNRD Order applies to approximately 131 addressed properties in Electoral Area E.

The newly added portion includes 12 addressed properties between approximately 5296 and 5665 Highway 97. The remaining Order area includes properties along:

• Highway 97

• Jesmond Road

• Pavilion-Clinton Road

• McCall Road

• Elliot Park Way

• Clinton Station Road

• Danielson Road

• Fenton Road

• 26 Mile Frontage Road

• Other locations shown on the official map

Separate Pear Lake evacuation actions also remain in effect within the Squamish-Lillooet Regional District.

No sufficiently current and consistently reported fire-size figure was available across all issuing authorities during this morning’s review. A previous hectare estimate has therefore not been carried forward.

Here’s what we’re watching:

• Further expansion along Highway 97

• Any direct closure or traffic-control measures on the highway

• Changes affecting Clinton or nearby rural communities

• Structure, utility or communications impacts

• Revisions to SLRD and TNRD evacuation boundaries

• Verified suppression progress and updated fire status

Here’s why it matters:

The expansion represents a meaningful change from a predominantly rural-road and park-access incident to one with increased exposure along a major Interior transportation corridor.

An Evacuation Order near Highway 97 does not itself mean the highway is closed. Travellers should verify DriveBC immediately before departure rather than assuming normal access.

────────────────────────────────────────

FRASER CANYON — BRUNSWICK COMPLEX / BOSTON BAR

Here’s what we know:

The Fraser Canyon remains a combined wildfire, evacuation, transportation and infrastructure emergency.

Current Fraser Valley Regional District Evacuation Orders include areas involving:

• Boston Bar

• North Bend and Canyon Alpine

• Hells Gate

• South of Hells Gate toward Alexandra Lodge

• Scuzzy Creek Forest Service Road and areas south of Boston Bar

• Nahatlatch and North Boothroyd

• Fishblue Lake

Additional evacuation actions remain associated with nearby First Nations jurisdictions, including Boston Bar First Nation, Boothroyd Indian Band and Spuzzum First Nation.

Highway 1 remains closed through the wildfire-affected Fraser Canyon corridor. DriveBC reports no estimated reopening time.

Boston Bar and North Bend water systems continue to operate intermittently while water access is prioritized in part for BC Wildfire Service operations.

When water is available:

• A boil-water notice remains in effect.

• Water must be boiled for two minutes before use.

• Stage 4 water-conservation measures remain in effect.

Here’s what we’re watching:

• Highway 1 reopening criteria

• Further evacuation-boundary changes

• Wind through the canyon

• Water, power, rail and communications impacts

• Changes affecting First Nations jurisdictions

• Confirmed structure impacts

• Measurable suppression progress on Brunswick Creek and adjoining fires

• Whether forecast showers provide operationally useful rainfall

Here’s why it matters:

This incident extends beyond the fire perimeter.

Road closure, intermittent water service, evacuation complexity and multiple responsible jurisdictions all affect life safety, responder access and eventual community recovery.

Today’s cooler conditions may create improved working opportunities in parts of the canyon. Wind remains important, and scattered showers should not be treated as confirmation that established fire perimeters have stabilized.

────────────────────────────────────────

KIMBERLEY AND ST. MARY LAKE — EAST KOOTENAY

Here’s what we know:

The City of Kimberley remains under Evacuation Alert because of Matthew Creek.

The separate Alert for 66 properties around St. Mary Lake remains in effect because of the Tower Creek fires.

The latest verified incident information lists:

• Matthew Creek — approximately 869 hectares

• Tower Creek #2 — approximately 250 hectares

• Tower Creek — approximately 12 hectares

Current Matthew Creek resources include:

• An Incident Management Team

• Two Initial Attack teams

• Seven helicopters

• Eighteen pieces of heavy equipment

• Eleven structure-protection personnel

Recent precipitation may help moderate fire behaviour in some locations, but amounts were uneven.

Operations include:

• Establishing contingency lines

• Reopening access along Matthew Creek Forest Service Road

• Improving the Mark Creek contingency guard

• Completing structure-protection triage of priority values

• Continued helicopter support

Six new regional starts were reported Friday. Several were very small, and one was already classified as Being Held by the Friday afternoon update.

Here’s what we’re watching:

• Gusty winds and low humidity today

• Any change from Alert to Order

• Whether rainfall meaningfully reduces fire behaviour

• Contingency-line completion

• New lightning or holdover-fire detections

• Structure-protection deployment

• A formal stage-of-control change for the primary fires

Here’s why it matters:

The unchanged Alerts and continued suppression work indicate active preparedness rather than resolution.

The small new starts also demonstrate the importance of rapid detection and initial attack while larger incidents are already drawing personnel, helicopters and heavy equipment.

Kimberley is expected to remain hot and windy today. Rain received Friday may help locally, but uneven precipitation and low humidity can produce substantially different conditions across short distances.

────────────────────────────────────────

SOUTH CARIBOO / FELKER / CLINTON

Here’s what we know:

A broad cluster of Orders and Alerts remains active across the South Cariboo and Bonaparte Plateau.

Current areas of concern include:

• Felker Lake and Chimney Lake

• Big Bar Lake

• Meadow Lake

• Beaverdam Lake

• Bowers Lake

• French Bar Creek

• Fiftynine Creek

• South Green Lake

• The Village of Clinton

• Pear Lake and the Highway 97 corridor

The Felker Fire Area 2 Evacuation Order remains active, with surrounding Alert areas affecting rural properties and recreation sites.

The broader Felker Alert was reported as affecting approximately 330 parcels when initially issued. Residents should use the current interactive evacuation map because Order and Alert boundaries are not identical.

Temperatures around 100 Mile House are expected to be lower than earlier in the week, with a possibility of localized thunderstorms.

Here’s what we’re watching:

• Felker evacuation-boundary changes

• Clinton’s Alert status

• Highway 97 access

• Lightning and thunderstorm outflow

• New holdover-fire detections

• Livestock and agricultural evacuation requirements

• Road access to lakes, recreation sites and rural properties

• Whether showers produce meaningful wetting

Here’s why it matters:

Cooling temperatures may reduce some short-term drying, but thunderstorms can produce lightning and localized gusts.

For rural households, livestock, trailers, private wells and long travel distances can make an Alert operationally important well before an Order is issued.

────────────────────────────────────────

LILLOOET LAKE / SOUTH CHILCOTIN

Here’s what we know:

Multiple separate SLRD wildfire evacuation areas remain active.

These include:

• An Evacuation Order and surrounding Alert associated with Two Twin Creek east of Lillooet Lake

• An Evacuation Order and updated Alert associated with Bonanza Creek in the South Chilcotin Mountains

• An Evacuation Alert associated with Riley Creek near Texas Creek

• Pear Lake evacuation areas in Electoral Area B

The issuing authority’s webpage currently displays both Order and Alert entries for some incidents because separate mapped areas or updated documents remain in force. Those entries should not be combined into one assumed boundary.

Here’s what we’re watching:

• Further escalation or partial rescission

• Road and backcountry access

• Recreational users and seasonal properties

• Livestock and agricultural impacts

• Changes involving nearby First Nations jurisdictions

• Confirmed fire sizes and suppression progress

Here’s why it matters:

These are remote and road-constrained landscapes.

A comparatively small evacuation population can still require significant coordination where residents, ranchers and visitors depend on one practical route or have limited communications coverage.

────────────────────────────────────────

ALBERTA

Here’s what we know:

Alberta reported no Wildfires of Note in its latest provincial update Friday afternoon.

A new incident in the Slave Lake Forest Area is receiving an active response:

• SWF059 was discovered July 24.

• It was estimated at approximately two hectares Friday afternoon.

• It was classified as Out of Control.

• It is located near the southeast edge of McConachie Lake, approximately 60 kilometres north of Slave Lake.

• Firefighters, airtankers and helicopters were assigned.

• Night-vision-equipped helicopters were expected to work overnight.

No community evacuation or infrastructure threat was reported in the latest update.

Wildfire danger varies across Alberta:

• Very High in the Calgary Forest Area

• Very High in the Rocky Mountain House Forest Area

• High in the Slave Lake Forest Area

• Lower in some northern areas that received more substantial rainfall

The Calgary Forest Area remains under a fire advisory. No active Calgary Forest Area wildfire was identified as the source of local smoke.

Here’s what we’re watching:

• SWF059’s status following the overnight response

• Any newly designated Alberta Wildfire of Note

• Lightning-related starts

• Drying vegetation in southern and west-central Alberta

• Fire-advisory, restriction or ban changes

• Community, First Nations or critical-infrastructure exposure

• Municipal wildfires outside the Forest Protection Area

Here’s why it matters:

SWF059 is currently small and remote, but it is a confirmed out-of-control fire receiving a substantial initial response.

That makes it worth watching without treating it as a community emergency. Its next status update will help show whether the overnight suppression effort was successful.

────────────────────────────────────────

ENVIRONMENTAL INDICATORS

WIND AND WEATHER CHANGE

Here’s what we know:

The most important weather variable today is the combination of cooler conditions in some regions and continued wind in others.

Current regional indications include:

• Windy conditions and scattered showers around Boston Bar

• Gusty wind, low humidity and continued heat around Kimberley

• A chance of localized thunderstorms around 100 Mile House

• Continued hot conditions in Calgary and southern Alberta

Here’s what we’re watching:

• Wind arriving before rainfall

• Canyon and valley wind shifts

• Thunderstorm outflow

• Aircraft operating limits

• Whether existing control lines are tested

• Rainfall duration and geographic coverage

Here’s why it matters:

Cooling alone does not necessarily mean lower operational risk.

A passing weather system may improve humidity and temperature while also producing wind shifts, gusts and lightning. These factors must be assessed together.

────────────────────────────────────────

HEAT AND CONSECUTIVE HOT DAYS

Here’s what we know:

The extreme heat affecting the Fraser Canyon and South Cariboo earlier in the week is moderating.

However:

• Kimberley is expected to remain near or above 30°C today.

• Calgary is expected to remain near the low 30s.

• Warm conditions continue to dry vegetation across parts of southern Alberta.

Here’s what we’re watching:

• Overnight humidity recovery

• Whether lower temperatures persist

• Continued low humidity in the East Kootenay

• Fine-fuel response during afternoon wind

• Heat stress for residents and crews

Here’s why it matters:

Several hot days have already produced cumulative drying.

One cooler day can improve conditions without fully reversing moisture loss in grass, needles, litter and other surface fuels.

────────────────────────────────────────

RAINFALL AND PROLONGED DRYING

Here’s what we know:

Recent precipitation has been uneven.

The Bootleg Complex received varying amounts of rain, with potential short-term moderation of fire behaviour.

Showers are possible in the Fraser Canyon, while localized thunderstorms may occur across parts of the Cariboo.

Southern and west-central Alberta remain dry despite isolated precipitation.

Here’s what we’re watching:

• Measured rainfall at incident locations

• Duration rather than the presence of a brief shower

• Areas repeatedly missed by precipitation

• Lightning outside the rainfall core

• How quickly exposed fuels dry afterward

Here’s why it matters:

A short shower may dampen grass and exposed fuels without substantially changing deeper fuel moisture or an established wildfire perimeter.

Rain should be evaluated locally—not treated as a provincial reset.

────────────────────────────────────────

LIGHTNING AND HOLDOVER-FIRE POTENTIAL

Here’s what we know:

Recent lightning remains operationally relevant across Interior and Southeast British Columbia and west-central Alberta.

The six new East Kootenay starts reported Friday demonstrate that new detections can continue after earlier storm activity.

Alberta Wildfire is also warning that recent lightning may have produced hidden ignitions in the Rocky Mountain House Forest Area.

Here’s what we’re watching:

• New smoke appearing during afternoon heating

• Clusters of delayed detections

• Lightning near existing evacuation areas

• New starts along transportation corridors

• Resource competition between initial attack and established incidents

Here’s why it matters:

A wildfire detected today may have started days earlier and remained concealed in duff, roots or heavier fuels.

Rapid reporting and successful initial attack are especially important while major incidents are already drawing substantial resources.

────────────────────────────────────────

DROUGHT AND FIRE-WEATHER INDICATORS

Here’s what we know:

Current incident-specific Drought Code values were not consistently available at a sufficiently current and comparable scale for all significant regions reviewed this morning.

No single Drought Code figure has therefore been used to characterize either province.

The stronger current indicators are:

• Evacuation expansion

• Uneven rainfall

• Continued low humidity and wind

• New lightning-related starts

• Current fire-behaviour observations

• Persistent prohibitions and advisories

• Cumulative drying from the week’s heat

Here’s what we’re watching:

• Updated station-level fire-weather data

• Overnight humidity recovery

• Measured rainfall

• Changes in provincial fire-danger ratings

• Whether drying resumes quickly after the weather system passes

Here’s why it matters:

Avoiding false precision is more useful than publishing an older or geographically distant index value.

Local fire behaviour, weather-station observations and evacuation activity provide a stronger operational picture.

────────────────────────────────────────

GRASS CURING AND HUMAN ACTIVITY

Here’s what we know:

Grass, roadside vegetation and other fine fuels remain responsive to wind and ignition sources, even where brief rain has occurred.

Potential ignition sources include:

• Vehicles parked over dry vegetation

• Machinery and hot exhaust systems

• Dragging chains or metal

• Campfires and outdoor burning

• Fireworks

• Smoking materials

• Generators or pumps operated in dry grass

Here’s what we’re watching:

• Fine fuels along highways and evacuation routes

• Recreational activity over the weekend

• Equipment use during windy periods

• Compliance with current restrictions

• Human-caused starts near communities

Here’s why it matters:

Preventable fires compete for the same crews, aircraft and heavy equipment already assigned to active community and rural-interface incidents.

────────────────────────────────────────

RESTRICTIONS AND PROHIBITIONS

Here’s what we know:

Category 1 campfires are prohibited throughout the:

• Cariboo Fire Centre

• Kamloops Fire Centre

• Southeast Fire Centre

Category 2 and Category 3 open fires are also prohibited in those centres.

Restrictions elsewhere in British Columbia vary by fire centre, district, municipality, park and First Nations jurisdiction.

The Calgary Forest Area remains under a fire advisory. New fire permits are being considered case by case, while existing valid permits remain subject to their conditions.

Here’s what we’re watching:

• Additional BC prohibitions

• Alberta advisory or restriction changes

• Municipal and First Nations rules that are more restrictive

• Weekend recreation-related ignitions

• Fireworks and equipment use during wind

Here’s why it matters:

Restrictions differ by exact location and land authority.

Anyone considering a campfire, outdoor burn or spark-producing activity should verify current rules for that location immediately before proceeding.

────────────────────────────────────────

HOMEOWNER IMPLICATIONS

For residents under an Evacuation Alert:

• Follow the issuing local authority or First Nation.

• Keep vehicles fuelled and positioned for departure.

• Prepare identification, medications and essential documents.

• Make arrangements for pets, livestock and mobility needs early.

• Confirm current road access and an alternate route where possible.

• Test pumps, generators and private water systems.

• Move easily transported combustible items away from structures when safe.

For residents under an Evacuation Order:

• Leave immediately using the route directed by the issuing authority.

• Do not assume the normal road remains available.

• Do not delay evacuation to activate sprinklers, move equipment or continue property work.

• Do not enter closed roads or restricted areas.

For residents outside—but near—an evacuation area:

• Monitor authoritative local information.

• Review how long departure would realistically take.

• Check transportation conditions before travelling.

• Avoid unnecessary ignition-producing activity during wind.

• Do not use smoke direction or unofficial maps as evacuation guidance.

These actions improve readiness. They do not predict wildfire behaviour or guarantee structure survival.

────────────────────────────────────────

WHAT CHANGED SINCE YESTERDAY

The Pear Lake incident produced the clearest operational escalation:

• The TNRD Evacuation Order expanded Friday evening.

• Approximately 131 addressed properties are now within the Order.

• The added area includes Highway 97 properties, increasing transportation-corridor exposure.

In the Fraser Canyon:

• The FVRD Order footprint now includes the area south of Hells Gate toward Alexandra Lodge.

• Highway 1 remains closed with no estimated reopening time.

• Boston Bar and North Bend continue to experience intermittent water service, a boil-water notice and Stage 4 conservation measures.

In the East Kootenay:

• The Kimberley and St. Mary Lake Alerts remain unchanged.

• Six new starts were reported Friday.

• Initial attack was successful on at least some of the new incidents.

• Uneven precipitation may moderate fire behaviour locally, but wind remains a concern.

In Alberta:

• No Wildfire of Note was designated.

• SWF059 was discovered near McConachie Lake and was classified as Out of Control at approximately two hectares in Friday’s update.

• Airtankers, firefighters and day-and-night helicopter resources were assigned.

────────────────────────────────────────

WHAT WE’RE WATCHING NEXT

• Pear Lake movement and further Highway 97 impacts

• Any changes affecting Clinton

• Highway 1 reopening through the Fraser Canyon

• Water-system reliability in Boston Bar and North Bend

• Brunswick Creek suppression progress

• Changes affecting nearby First Nations jurisdictions

• Wind around Kimberley and St. Mary Lake

• New East Kootenay and Cariboo lightning detections

• Felker evacuation-boundary changes

• Two Twin Creek, Bonanza Creek and Riley Creek evacuation status

• SWF059’s status following overnight suppression

• Whether forecast rain produces meaningful wetting

• Further BC or Alberta restrictions

• Any new Wildfire of Note

• Confirmed structure, utility or communications impacts

────────────────────────────────────────

STRUCTURE DEFENCE TAKEAWAY

Here’s what we know:

British Columbia remains in a period of elevated multi-incident wildfire activity.

Pear Lake is the most important new escalation because its Evacuation Order now affects approximately 131 addressed properties and has expanded along Highway 97.

The Fraser Canyon remains a complex wildfire, evacuation, transportation and infrastructure event.

Kimberley and St. Mary Lake remain under Alert, with substantial suppression and structure-protection resources continuing their work.

Alberta has no Wildfire of Note, although a new out-of-control fire north of Slave Lake is receiving a strong initial response.

Here’s what we’re watching:

The next important changes will likely involve evacuation boundaries, major-road access, wind, the effectiveness of recent rainfall and whether initial attack succeeds on newly detected fires.

Here’s why it matters:

The provincial wildfire picture remains active, but exposure is local.

Residents should base decisions on current evacuation instructions, verified road access and the incident affecting their specific community—not on broad provincial counts, visible smoke or an older perimeter map.

This remains a time for calm attention, practical preparation and strict reliance on authoritative information.

────────────────────────────────────────

SOURCES CONSULTED

• BC Wildfire Service incident information and active-fire dashboard

• EmergencyInfoBC

• Thompson-Nicola Regional District

• Fraser Valley Regional District

• Squamish-Lillooet Regional District

• Cariboo Regional District

• Regional District of East Kootenay

• City of Kimberley

• Relevant First Nations emergency authorities

• DriveBC

• Environment and Climate Change Canada

• BC Wildfire Service prohibitions and restrictions

• Alberta Wildfire

• Alberta Wildfires of Note

• Alberta Wildfire forest-area updates

• Alberta Emergency Alert

• Alberta Fire Bans

• 511 Alberta