Water shortages, vandalism complicate wildfire response in 2 B.C. communities
Officials in two evacuated B.C. communities are warning residents who remain behind to leave or conserve water because supplies are running low as firefighters tackle nearby wildfires.
In Clinton, a village along Highway 97 in the province's Cariboo region, water supply has reached "critically low levels" after the community was ordered to evacuate Friday due to the Pear Lake Wildfire.
That out-of-control wildfire has been growing to the north and merged with the Fiftynine Creek fire late Saturday. Combined, the merged fires have burned more than 630 square kilometres of land.
Keep up with the latest wildfire information at The Weather Network's wildfire hub.
The Village of Clinton says anyone still in the community must immediately stop all outdoor and non-essential water use.
On Saturday, the Pear Lake and Fiftynine Creek fire merged to form the larger combined Pear Lake fire. (Jen Monsos)
In an update on Facebook Sunday, the village said it needs to ensure sufficient water remains available for the Clinton Fire Department to protect critical infrastructure.
On Saturday, a boil-water notice was also issued after the village bypassed its treatment system to increase water flows for firefighting.
Clinton had already moved to Stage 3 restrictions on July 15 as a result of unusually low reservoir levels. Lawn watering, sprinklers and filling pools or hot tubs were prohibited, although residents could hand-water gardens.
The water concerns in the village come as another evacuated community farther south in B.C.’s Fraser Canyon deals with vandalism to its water system.
A wildfire is seen burning near Boston Bar, B.C., overnight July 15. An evacuation order for the community was issued July 16. (Angie Hunter)
Boston Bar's water system vandalized
The Fraser Valley Regional District says a water system in Boston Bar was vandalized this week after someone opened a valve inside an area under evacuation order as wildfires continue to threaten the community.
It said the system had been shut down Thursday to protect critical infrastructure and preserve water for firefighting operations.
Boston Bar was already under a boil water notice and Stage 4 water conservation measures. The regional district said crews had shut off the water system after water demand increased sharply and supply dropped.
At about 11:30 p.m. Thursday, staff received an alarm showing that water was flowing through the system again.
The regional district vice-chair Chris Kloot said someone had opened a valve incorrectly, allowing water to enter too quickly.
One of three wildfires burning near Boston Bar, B.C., can be seen in this photo taken by resident Attila Banhegyi on the night of July 21, 2026. (Submitted by Attila Banhegyi)
That created the risk of a "water hammer" — a sudden pressure surge that can cause damage to the water system.
"It's a dynamic situation in the Fraser Canyon with the wildfire, and an act of vandalism is very concerning," Kloot said.
He said regional district staff were made aware of the situation and were able to respond onsite by turning the water service back off at approximately 1:30 a.m. Friday.
However, Kloot said the area remains too dangerous for workers to fully inspect the system and the extent of any damage will not be known until it is safe to return.
"This incident has the potential to burden taxpayers for any cost that may be associated with repairing a system that has been vandalized," he added. "We're just hopeful that if there is any damage, it's minimal."
The regional district said the system supplies about 125 residential and commercial properties in Boston Bar. It warned that substantial repairs could result in added costs for local taxpayers.
The incident is being investigated by Hope RCMP as vandalism.
Hundreds of properties in and around Boston Bar remain under evacuation order because of the Brunswick wildfire complex.
But Fraser Valley Regional District says some residents are refusing to leave.
Kloot said no one should be inside the evacuation area and warned that those who remain are putting themselves and emergency personnel at risk.
"These decisions are not made lightly," he said. "I’m still hopeful that they’ll please leave for their own safety."
The Brunswick complex includes the Brunswick Creek, Ainslie Creek and Anderson Creek wildfires and covers more than 350 square kilometres.
The B.C. Wildfire Service said Sunday that there has been minimal fire behaviour due to cooler temperatures and cloudier conditions.
It said the Anderson Creek fire remained active where it had merged with the Ainslie Creek fire. Firefighting crews say the area’s steep terrain has made suppression work more difficult and labour-intensive.
Highway 1 remains closed between Spuzzum Creek Road and the Jackass Summit.
This article was originally published for CBC News.