More B.C. heat records broken as wildfires intensify

This photo of the Shetland Creek wildfire was shared by the BC Wildfire Service on July 18, 2024.

Daily high temperature records were broken in more than a dozen B.C. communities Saturday, as hot and dry weather continues to cause a surge in wildfire activity.

The hottest place in the province was Lytton, where the mercury hit 41.2 C, breaking a record of 40.6 C set in 1946. In Princeton, the temperature was 37.3 C, narrowly beating the previous record of 37.2 C, which was set in 1931.

More than 20 heat warnings remain in effect Sunday, covering vast swathes of the province.

“An extended period of high temperatures will continue as a ridge of high pressure remains over the region. Little relief is expected at night with elevated overnight temperatures,” the warnings from Environment Canada say, with some predicting cooler temperatures as early as Tuesday.

The BC Wildfire Service, in its provincial situation report Saturday, noted that fire activity saw an increase due to dry thunderstorms in the Interior and central parts of the province.

“Crews continue to focus on aggressive initial attack with close to 1,000 BC Wildfire Service firefighters on the ground as well as contract crews, aviation, heavy equipment and structural protection crews,” the update said.

“With no rainfall in the southern regions the fire danger is high to extreme in most areas,” it continued.

As of Sunday morning, there were more than 300 wildfires burning. Of those, three are classifies as wildfires of note, meaning they are highly visible or pose a potential threat to public safety.

Nine evacuation orders and 15 alerts are in effect.

The following is a list of communities where high temperature records were broken Saturday:

• Burns Lake: New record of 31.1 C, old record of 31.0 C set in 1994
• Cranbrook: New record of 36.7 C, old record of 35.9 C set in 1979
• Creston: Tied record of 37.2 C set in 1931
• Gibsons: New record of 30.9 C, old record of 28.7 set in 2020
• Lytton: New record of 41.2 C, old record of 40.6 C set in 1946
• Mackenzie: New record of 32.6 C, old record of 31.3 C set in 1979
• Merritt: New record of 37.9 C, old record of 37.0 C set in 1994
• Princeton: New record of 37.3 C, old record of 37.2 C set in 1931
• Sechelt: New record of 30.9 C, old record of 29.0 set in 1994
• Smithers: New record of 32.1 C, old record of 31.7 C set in 2023
• Sparwood: New record of 34.5 C, old record of 34.0 C set in 1979
• Tatlayoko Lake: New record of 33.5 C, old record of 32.0 C set in 1994
• Trail: New record of 39.2 C, old record of 39.0 C set in 1979
• Vernon: New record of 37.8 C, old record of 37.5 c set in 1979