What's the current situation with the wildfires in Canada?

Hello everyone, We’ve planned a trip (retired couple) for late August to the first half of September in Western Canada. Classic itinerary: arrival in Calgary, Banff, Jasper, Clearwater, Whistler, Vancouver Island, departure from Vancouver. I know you can’t see into the future any better than I can, so I’m obviously not asking what the wildfire situation will be like in a month... But if any of you could let me know if, CURRENTLY, there are major difficulties—not just for locals, of course, but for tourists as well? We’re hesitating between taking the chance or canceling what we still can. We’re not young anymore and don’t have the flexibility we once did... A thousand thanks to those of you on the ground or with contacts there who can help us make this decision!

Hi, if you don’t speak or understand English, it might be tough. There’s CBC.ca, and today there are wildfires in northern Ontario. So, far from BC and Alberta. Otherwise, check out these English sites: for BC for Alberta Radio Canada in French

Hello,

Yes, like every summer, there are a lot of wildfires in British Columbia. This summer is very dry again, and the medium-term outlook isn’t very encouraging on that front.

Right now, there are several major fires: in Boston Bar (south of Lytton), Pemberton (north of Whistler), Clinton (north of Kamloops), and Kimberley (near Alberta). I’d say there’s very little chance the situation will improve in the short term.

That said, if I were you, I wouldn’t cancel anything—there are always alternatives.

https://wildfiresituation.nrs.gov.bc.ca/map

https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/safety/wildfire-status/prepare/predictive-services/weather-fire-danger/fire-danger

On the Radio-Canada website, you’ll find sections for each province and territory. https://ici.radio-canada.ca/colombie-britannique Safe travels

Thanks so much for your reply. I’ll check out the sites you mentioned, though I’ve already done quite a bit of research... Two things, mainly, are worrying us: - the webcams show landscapes that often look pretty desolate - the smoke is causing health issues, and we don’t want to take any risks with that

We can get by in English, but that’s not the main concern

Thanks again and have a great day!

Hello Ivert, Thanks for your message. We’ve been dreaming about this trip for a long time, and it’s really hard to give it up (not to mention the financial losses). BUT, if we don’t follow the planned route—and it seems like around Jasper, Clearwater, and Whistler (among others), things aren’t ideal—what alternatives do we have? We’re still hoping to spend a week on Vancouver Island, even if it means going farther north than planned, but between Calgary and Vancouver, what destinations would you recommend? We’ve been preparing this trip for six months, and I’ll admit I don’t have a backup plan, especially since the situation could change in a month. Thanks in advance for any help you can offer. It’s thanks to people who know the situation that we’ll be able to make a decision as soon as possible to recover what we still can! Have a great day!

Thanks, Etrefal. Yes, I check Radio Canada’s site regularly, but it’s still really tough to make a decision. And the longer we wait, the bigger the financial loss—already significant—will get... Have a good day, and don’t hesitate to share what you’re seeing with tourists, since you seem to be there (I know the situation is especially hard for you, and we totally get it—especially since southern France isn’t spared either!)

Hello

There’s still time to see. But if the roads to Whistler and Kamloops don’t appeal to you, you can take the main route from the Rockies at Golden, BC. That means heading back down from Jasper and then turning left. The road is busy but scenic and full of little tourist spots: the spiral tunnels, Kicking Horse River, Yoho National Park, Revelstoke and its dam, Rogers Pass, Three Valley Gap (a heritage village), and the Last Spike (where the railway was connected). Maybe stop over in Revelstoke. Then head to Kelowna and the Okanagan Valley: Okanagan Lake, Myra Canyon, wineries and orchards, and the Kettle Valley Railway. Getting to Vancouver from Kelowna is pretty quick and the drive is beautiful. The tricky part is crossing Vancouver—there are two ferries, one to the south for Victoria and one to the north for Nanaimo, if I remember right. The southern one is easier to reach from Kelowna.

I’ll be in Kelowna on August 10th...

Hi there, I’d recommend heading to the BC fjords instead of the interior plateaus. There’s less risk of wildfires because of more rainy days. You can do the Inside Passage starting from Port Hardy to Prince Rupert—I wrote a travel journal about it. Because the Okanagan is basically an oven in summer. Lytton nearly disappeared off the map.

Thanks so much, Zigomar, for this solution. If in about ten days you're in Kelowna (I know, it's a lot to ask—when you're on vacation, you want to forget everything...), could you let me know how things stand? We’ll just have time to act to avoid losing everything financially. I’m especially thinking about the fact that, from what I can see, the smoke often makes it impossible to enjoy the landscapes, and also, of course, roads that might be cut off with no real backup options in areas where accommodations are scarce and often booked months in advance. As for the ferries to Vancouver Island, they’re, like everything else (!), already booked. Now we just have to make it all line up... Thanks again regardless, and if you can keep us posted, that would be absolutely perfect! Have a great evening!

Yes, I'll keep that in mind. I can't invite you for a drink since I'm leaving the area on September 4th and you'll still be in the Rockies 😉 Have a good evening

Hey, why insist on going to the Okanagan at all costs? In summer, it's a real furnace, as I mentioned in my first post. Ideally, it's better to go to Campbell River, for example. Otherwise, about the wildfires—I thought the Canadair planes were made in Canada, so that works out, ha ha. Joking aside, you don’t have to look far to find the cause of all these problems, on a political note. Messrs. Harper and then Trudeau decided on massive budget cuts, so there are fewer resources to fight wildfires 🙁

Looking at what's happening right now in our region, like in the Var and Gironde, I’m really worried that the—multifaceted—problem is the same in France...

It’s not making our decision any easier: should we go or cancel what we still can? And which route should we prioritize between Calgary and Vancouver, knowing we have 10 days for this trip before taking the ferry to Vancouver Island?

All your tips are welcome, since we don’t know the Canadian West at all.

Thanks in advance to all of you!

Honestly, it’s not looking good at all... The summer hasn’t been horribly hot, but it’s been really dry, and the (big) fires have been multiplying over the past few days. A provincial state of emergency has just been declared in British Columbia: https://www.emergencyinfobc.gov.bc.ca/ https://governmentofbc.maps.arcgis.com/apps/webappviewer/index.html?id=950b4eec577a4dc5b298a61adab41c06

unfortunately even Washington state south of BC is burning 😄There have been evacuations in Spokane

Evacuations? Hardly any... Hundreds of homes have been destroyed. Besides, I don’t see what’s funny about it. https://komonews.com/news/local/spokane-fires-update-old-trails-arson-invesigation-wildfire-washington-state-disaster-red-flag-conditions

Anyway, I’m picking up on something mentioned earlier: Lytton isn’t in the Okanagan, but in the Fraser Canyon. The Okanagan gets hot in the summer, but it’s nothing compared to the corridor connecting Pemberton, Lillooet, Lytton, Spences Bridge, and Ashcroft. The last two towns are actually in the only area of the country that could be called a desert (and definitely not Osoyoos, contrary to what you might read here and there...). If I showed photos of the area, most people wouldn’t believe it was in Canada.

Evacuations? Hardly any... Hundreds of homes have been destroyed. Besides, I don’t see what’s funny about it. .

? I never wrote that it was funny. Where did I write that it’s funny? Anyway, when it comes to the heatwave and drought, everyone’s suffering

Hi Olyana. I arrived safely in Kelowna yesterday. A smoky haze is covering the area where there are two wildfire hotspots. There was a slight burnt smell this morning. Otherwise, life goes on, but it’s a strange atmosphere. Later!

A few webcams in the region: https://www.castanet.net/scenic-web-cams/all/

Hello, Thank you all for your replies since my last message. I really appreciate it. The thing is, we canceled everything we could about ten days ago. Our hearts are with the Canadians, and we hope those who kept their trip can enjoy it as much as possible. Thanks again, best regards.