Evacuation order issued as wildfire burns near Pemberton, BC

An evacuation order has been issued for a park near Pemberton, British Columbia, while several nearby properties remain on evacuation alert as firefighters battle a human-caused wildfire.

The blaze was discovered on Wednesday afternoon around five kilometres from Highway 99 and has burned approximately 10 hectares, according to the BC Wildfire Service (BCWS).

The Village of Pemberton and the Squamish-Lillooet Regional District issued the evacuation order and alerts late on Wednesday night.

Officials have ordered the public to stay away from One Mile Lake Park to allow emergency crews to carry out firefighting operations safely.

In an update issued shortly after midnight, BCWS said firefighters, helicopters and an air tanker were responding to the wildfire, with crews expected to continue working through the night.

The agency said nearby buildings were not currently at risk, but warned that fire behaviour could increase on Thursday due to hot, dry weather and forecast lightning.

As of Thursday morning, 31 wildfires were burning across British Columbia, with 14 new fires having started during the previous 24 hours.

Emergency officials continue to monitor the situation and have urged residents in affected areas to stay alert for further evacuation updates as crews work to contain the blaze.