Nearly 3,100 BC Hydro customers affected as wildfires threaten Pemberton and force evacuations near Boston Bar

The Signal Hill wildfire burning near Pemberton, B.C., is shown on Thursday, July 16.

BC Hydro says multiple outages linked to the Signal Hill wildfire affected approximately 3,055 customers in the Pemberton area Thursday.

The utility said three circuits went out in stages throughout the day, affecting 2,053 customers on one circuit, 714 on another and 288 on a third. BC Hydro said the wildfire is believed to be the likely cause of the outages, although crews have not completed a full damage assessment.

The utility said it had mobilized four crews and 12 power line technicians and hoped to restore power to most affected customers Thursday night, depending on wildfire conditions and access restrictions.

The Signal Hill wildfire continued to burn near Pemberton, prompting an evacuation alert covering the entire village.

Residents watched as smoke and flames burned on the nearby mountainside while firefighters and helicopters worked to slow the fire’s spread.

“I don’t know it feels pretty surreal – kind of been a little emotional,” one resident said.

Another described the situation as “definitely pretty scary seeing this mountain side this close to people’s homes.”

Crews received some help from changing weather conditions Thursday evening.

“We have multiple crews working responding to this fire. Good progress was made today,” a BC Wildfire Service representative said.

Pemberton Mayor Mike Richman urged residents to stay prepared.

“We want folks to be ready, and that means having a grab and go bag, that means their documents, their medication, plan with their family and roommates if need be.”

Meanwhile, in B.C.’s Fraser Canyon, hundreds of residents in and around Boston Bar remained under evacuation order because of the Brunswick Complex wildfires.

The fires have grown to more than 20,000 hectares combined and Highway 1 remains closed. Fire officials say aggressive, erratic fire behaviour is being driven by strong winds, dry conditions and steep terrain. About 370 firefighters and 20 helicopters are working on the fire.