Wildfire History in Sun Peaks & Surrounding Region
Sun Peaks is no stranger to wildfire. Over the years, the area has experienced a range of fire events both small and large, driven by natural causes, such as lightning, and human activity. Notable fires such as the 2003 Niskonlith (McGillivray) Fire, the 2021 Embleton Fire, and the impacts from the 2023 Bush Creek East Complex have underscored the region’s vulnerability. This remind us that wildfire is a recurring force in our landscape. As our climate continues to change, so does the frequency and intensity of wildfire, making proactive mitigation and preparedness more important than ever.
McLure Fire (2003)
In the devastating 2003 wildfire season, on July 31, a fire started near McLure and rapidly spread north towards Barriere. It destroyed over 70 homes, a large mill and several other businesses, and burned over 26,400 hectares of forest. It forced the evacuation of 3000 residents in the valley.
Strawberry Hill Fire (2003)
Also in 2003, the Strawberry Hill fire ignited north of Kamloops in early August. It burned approximately 5,700 hectares, forcing evacuations in Rayleigh and Paul Lake, and destroyed homes in the region.
Niskonlith (McGillivray) Fire 2003
In mid-August 2003, the Niskonlith Fire ignited near Niskonlith Lake, northwest of Chase. It burned approximately 10,000 hectares, prompting evacuation alerts for over 2,000 residents in surrounding areas. At its closest, the fire perimeter reached the eastern side of Morrisey Lake, approximately 1 kilometre outside of the municipal boundary. Extreme drought and heat fueled the fire’s spread, placing significant pressure on firefighting resources already stretched thin by other major fires across the Interior. Though Sun Peaks was not directly impacted, the fire emphasized the region’s vulnerability and the growing need for proactive wildfire mitigation.
Embleton Mountain Fire (2021)
On July 9, 2021, lightning struck near Embleton Mountain, sparking a wildfire that expanded to nearly 992 hectares. The fire prompted evacuation orders for Whitecroft and further west to Heffley Lake, and an evacuation alert for Sun Peaks. At its closest, the fire perimeter was within 4 kilometres of the municipal boundary. It persisted for weeks, keeping Sun Peaks partially closed and highlighting the community’s vulnerability.
Bush Creek Complex Fire (2023)
On July 12, 2023, lightning ignited the Bush Creek East fire (initially two separate ignitions) in the Shuswap region near Adams Lake, east of Sun Peaks. It merged with the Lower Adams Lake East fire by mid-August, ultimately consuming approximately 45,600 hectares. At its peak, the blaze spread rapidly up to 20 kilometres in 12 hours, destroying around 270 structures and triggering evacuations of 3,500 properties. The fire perimeter was approximately 7 kilometres from the municipal boundary at the closest point. While Sun Peaks remained largely untouched, dense smoke and compromised alternate egress routes persisted long into the season.
Key Takeaways
- Lightning is the common ignition source in recent wildfires, underscoring the importance of early season readiness.
- Rapid fire behavior, driven by wind and drought, highlights the critical need for FireSmart property preparedness and robust evacuation plans.
- Community resilience depends on ongoing mitigation efforts such as home hardening, defensible landscaping, and emergency readiness.