Soaked but still burning as rain brings little relief to B.C. wildfire
Long-awaited summer rain is falling across the South Coast—but for the crews near Cameron Lake, it's not the lifeline they were hoping for.
A wave of much-needed rain is making its way through parts of B.C., but it's no silver bullet—especially for the out-of-control Cameron Lake Wildfire, which continues to threaten communities on Vancouver Island.
A mixed bag of rain totals
While parts of the South Coast prepare for what could be the most significant rainfall of the season, not all regions are feeling the same hope of relief.
Vancouver is expected to receive around 45 mm of rain by mid-week, with Abbotsford trailing behind at 41 mm.
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Whistler and Kamloops are leading the way with 65 mm forecasts each—even Victoria is receiving a decent 20 mm. Comox, on the other hand, is barely seeing 4 mm.
Meanwhile, the one area that desperately needs some rain—near Cameron Lake on Vancouver Island—isn't getting much. Forecasts predict only a few millimetres, with 15 mm at most, far from enough to quell the flames.
There is also a risk of thunderstorms on Wednesday, which complicates matters. Offcials warn that lightning may worsen conditions or slow firefighting efforts.
'Imminent risk': Evacuations still in place
Still burning out of control, the Cameron Lake Wildfire has scorched roughly 500 hectares near Highway 4 as of Tuesday morning.
Evacuation orders and alerts remain in place, with officials warning that the fire "poses an imminent risk" to communities nearby. Those in the area are being urged to leave immediately.
Rain could dampen fire activity slightly, but it will not be sufficient to extinguish it.
Heavy rainfall is expected along west Vancouver Island and parts of the central and north coasts—but not where it counts the most.
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Forecasts continue to change, increasing the uncertainty. However, one thing is certain: the rain has arrived, but it is no miracle for Cameron Lake.
Wildfire updates and safety tips: Get the latest on active wildfires, how they're affecting your area and what you can do to stay safe. Visit our dedicated page here.