Overview of the wildfire situation in B.C as of 9:15 a.m. Aug. 3. (Image Credit: BC Wildfire Service)

By Victor Kaisar

Wildfire Update

Several new fire starts reported after Saturday thunderstorms

Aug 3, 2025 | 9:26 AM

KAMLOOPS — (UPDATE 9:30 p.m.): While there have been some new fires reported, the BC Wildfire Service appears to be getting a handle on wildfires sparked after Saturday’s (Aug. 2) on again, off again thunderstorms in the Interior.

The BC Wildfire Service dashboard shows a smattering of new fire stars in the Cariboo and the southern areas of the Prince George Fire Centre.

However, all but one wildfire in the Cariboo is either under control or being held. A number in the Prince George Fire Centre are still listed as burning out of control though a few are already being held or under control.

A handful of new fire starts were also reported in the Kamloops Fire Centre, but the majority of those blazes are considered to be under control at this time.

As of publishing, the Wesley Ridge fire on Vancouver Island, about 60 km from Nanaimo has led to hundreds of evacuation orders from the Regional District of Nanaimo.

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Evacuation orders or alerts were also in place due to fires near Lytton, near Harrison Hot Springs, near Nazko in the Cariboo Fire Centre, as well as near Mount Davidson and near Rubyrock Provincial Park in the Prince George Fire Centre.

According to the BC Wildfire Service dashboard, there are around 140 active wildfires across British Columbia. The Prince George Fire Centre was home to roughly 70 of those fires with the Cariboo Fire Centre in second with about 20.

There are around 45 fires across B.C. classified as out of control with 47 being held and 45 under control.

In a situation update Sunday (Aug. 3), the BC Wildfire Service said while cooler temperatures and increased precipitation were recorded in some parts of the province Saturday, there were still 14,000 new lightning strikes.

“This coming week will see cooler temperatures, scattered showers and a decrease in thunderstorm activity,” the BC Wildfire Service said. “While the downturn in weather is assisting our response efforts, new lightning-caused wildfire starts are expected from the over 62,000 strikes received since Wednesday.”

The BC Wildfire Service said lightning is forecast to continue over inland regions of the province Sunday, adding the northeast, Robson Valley, central and southeast areas remain at higher risk.

“Severe thunderstorms may come with heavy downpours and wind gusts,” it said. “Northern B.C. will see winds picking up while winds in the south remain light with possible afternoon gusts.”

You can find the latest weather alerts from Environment Canada here, the latest on evacuation orders and alerts from Emergency Info BC here, and the latest updates from the BC Wildfire Service here.