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Ainslie Creek Wildfire Showing Growth on Southwest Flank in Fraser Canyon

As of Saturday, Aug. 15, 2026, the Ainslie Creek wildfire grew to an estimated 64,674 hectares, expanding about 500 metres south along Highway 1 in the Fraser Canyon near Hell's Gate.
Firefighters are managing the blaze as part of the Brunswick Complex alongside the 8,800-hectare Brunsick Creek wildfire, deploying 236 firefighters, 20 helicopters, 59 pieces of heavy equipment, and 85 structure-protection personnel.
Merritt Mayor Mike Goetz noted the city remains prepared for potential evacuation alerts, with residents feeling "terrified" by the situation; seven evacuation alerts and four evacuation orders are currently in place.
Crews are building control lines and conducting planned ignitions to reduce fuel and slow the fire's eastward push toward Highway 5, while night-vision-equipped heavy helicopters continue bucketing near Maka Creek and Patchett Road.
Conditions are expected to moderate as Merritt forecasts 27 C with a 60 per cent chance of showers and a risk of thunderstorms, while firefighters monitor the northeastern flank near Hooshum Forest Service Road.

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Ainslie Creek wildfire showing growth on southwest flank in Fraser Canyon

There have been no new evacuation orders or alerts issued since Aug. 11 in response to the Ainslie Creek wildfire, which continues to burn out of control between Highway 1 in the Fraser Canyon and Highway 5 (Coquihalla). As of Saturday (Aug. 15), the fire was estimated at 64,674 hectares. At its northeastern tip the fire is burning towards Highway 8 at Nooaitch, while on the southeast it is burning towards Highway 5. Both highways remain open at…

22 hours ago·Mission, Canada

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