Wildfire in Belcarra Regional Park Prompts Evacuations and Alerts Near Anmore

Olivia Singh

8/6/20263 min read

A wildfire burning inside Metro Vancouver’s Belcarra Regional Park has prompted evacuations and expanded alerts in the nearby Village of Anmore, as crews from several agencies work to contain the blaze.

The fire was discovered Wednesday and is located roughly one kilometre southeast of White Pine Beach at Sasamat Lake, according to the B.C. Wildfire Service. By early Wednesday evening, the wildfire was estimated at approximately 1.5 hectares.

Although relatively small in size, the fire triggered a large multi-agency response because of its proximity to homes, parkland, hydro infrastructure and recreation areas.

Homes Evacuated, More Properties Placed on Alert

Two homes on Fern Drive were evacuated by ground crews as firefighters responded to the scene.

The Village of Anmore initially issued an evacuation alert for 12 properties, but later expanded the alert at 7:30 p.m. PT to include 35 properties.

The affected areas include properties along Fern Drive north of Magnolia Way, along Oak Court, and properties northeast along Crystal Creek Drive.

An evacuation alert means residents must be prepared to leave at a moment’s notice. An evacuation order, by contrast, means residents must leave immediately.

Anmore, a small village in Metro Vancouver with a population of just under 2,500 in 2022, sits near forested areas and regional parkland, making wildfire response especially urgent when flames break out nearby.

Crews From Multiple Jurisdictions Respond

Firefighting personnel were dispatched from several jurisdictions on Wednesday, including the Sasamat Fire Department, Metro Vancouver, the B.C. Wildfire Service, Port Moody Fire Department and local volunteer crews.

Officials also asked the public to stay away from Belcarra Regional Park and the Village of Anmore area until it is deemed safe.

Nearby Buntzen Lake recreation area was also closed by B.C. Hydro until further notice because of the wildfire.

Live Electrical Lines Slowed Initial Ground Response

When crews first arrived, they were unable to access the fire directly on the ground because of live electrical wires from nearby B.C. Hydro infrastructure.

Metro Vancouver incident commander Brant Arnold-Smith said the energized transmission lines created an early barrier for crews trying to reach the flames.

“We would have had more headway if we didn’t have those energized transmission lines as a bit of a barrier for our response,” he said Wednesday evening.

Because of that risk, crews initially relied on aerial firefighting. Three helicopters were used to dump water over the fire while ground crews waited for the area to become safe enough to enter.

By around 8 p.m. PT, Arnold-Smith said the fire area had been successfully dampened through the aviation response.

B.C. Hydro later cut power to infrastructure in the affected area, allowing ground crews to move in and attack the wildfire directly.

Conditions Help Firefighters

By Wednesday evening, approximately 40 firefighters were battling the blaze.

Arnold-Smith said crews were fortunate that winds were calm, giving firefighters a safer and more favourable window to work.

“We are very fortunate that the conditions presently are not windy,” he said. “It’s advantageous for our crews. It’s also a lot safer for our crews.”

Wind can dramatically change wildfire behaviour, especially in forested areas close to homes and recreation sites. The calm conditions gave crews a better chance of containing the fire before it could spread more aggressively.

Public Asked to Stay Clear

As crews continued suppression efforts, authorities urged residents and visitors to avoid the Belcarra Regional Park and Anmore area. The closure of nearby recreation spaces, including Buntzen Lake, was intended to keep people away from active firefighting operations and reduce the risk of congestion around emergency routes.

The cause of the wildfire has not yet been confirmed.

For residents under alert, the focus remains on readiness. Officials are asking them to prepare essential belongings, keep informed through local emergency updates and be ready to leave quickly if conditions change.

The wildfire remains a developing situation, but officials said the coordinated response from local, regional and provincial crews had helped limit the immediate risk by Wednesday evening.

For a small community bordered by forest and parkland, the incident is another reminder of how quickly wildfire conditions can disrupt life even inside Metro Vancouver.

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