British Columbia’s forests minister says he is not interested in the idea of a federal takeover of wildfire response, amid criticism of Canada’s approach from U.S. President Donald Trump and Ontario Premier Dog Ford’s recent calls for a national strategy.
He said that while B.C. is looking for federal investments on prevention, risk mitigation and forest management, the province is best positioned to manage its wildfires.
“We have invested hundreds of millions of dollars, and we feel very strongly, and I feel very strongly, that we have a world-class organization in the BC Wildfire Service, and we have shown that we cannot only support our own province but also support other jurisdictions as well,” said Parmar at an update on the province’s wildfire season.
He extended that offer to “our friends and cousins” south of the border.
U.S. President Trump last week threatened to impose more tariffs on Canada due to smoke from fires drifting south over the border.
The update by Parmar and other officials described how British Columbia wildfire crews had stamped out dozens of recent fires or contained them to just a few hectares, while hot weather was on the way and some communities were still threatened.
Emergency Management Minister Kelly Greene said there were about 600 properties on evacuation order, most through the Fraser Canyon near Boston Bar due to two wildfires, while about 5,700 were on evacuation alert, including the entire city of Kimberley.
Greene said that as of Tuesday, Emergency Support Services staff were helping approximately 430 evacuees, with accommodation, clothing and other essentials.
Parmar said 182 wildfires had started in the past week — most because of lightning storms — but 80 per cent had been put out while many others were being kept under 10 hectares because of quick actions of wildfire crews.
He said B.C. was leading the way with firefighting innovation, including night vision technology, drones, and remote-controlled water cannons.
“As the premiers of our country prepare to meet with the prime minister this week, I want British Columbians to know we are going to continue to lead the discussion in Canada,” said Parmar.
About 80 wildfires were burning in B.C. as of Tuesday afternoon, including four wildfires of note. Among them are the Matthew Creek and Tower Creek wildfires that are part of the so-called Bootleg Complex of fires that have resulted in evacuation alerts for Kimberley.
Hugh Murdoch, an incident commander for the Bootleg Complex, said there had been minimal growth of the fires but they were aware of the hot forecast later this week and were bringing additional resources to protect the city of more than 8,000.
Temperatures into the mid-30s are expected in the Kimberley region.
Parmar said he had been in touch with Kimberley Mayor Don McCormick, and the community was worried about the wildfires that might pose risks to their watershed, which is one of the community’s most valuable assets.
He said the government, BC Timber Sales and forestry partners, had been looking at “very selective logging, partial harvesting, commercial thinning, small light touch forestry” that could help protect both the watershed and the community.
Heat warnings have meanwhile expanded to much of the southern and coastal inland of the province, and Parmar said the high temperatures, strong winds and thunderstorms would likely mean another jump in fire starts.
“This past week has been a reminder of how fast our wildfire situation can change,” said Parmar, referring to a spike in fire numbers that were in the low 20s less than a week ago.
Randene Neill, the minister of water, land and resource stewardship, said that while drought conditions fuelled wildfires, they have also created record low stream flows in some waterways, especially in the Okanagan region.
“Declining stream flows and rising water temperatures place additional stress on fish and aquatic ecosystems. And today, I’m asking everyone in the Okanagan particularly to help conserve water,” she said during the news conference on Tuesday.
Bessette Creek and the Salmon River in the Okanagan were being monitored as they have such low flows that they’re concerned for the survival of the fish population, especially chinook salmon.
“I met with the Okanagan agriculture community last week. I know farmers in the Salmon River area are implementing a voluntary irrigation schedule in the hopes that flows will increase,” Neill said.
She said that as elevated drought conditions swept across much of B.C. this summer, many municipalities were increasing water restrictions. Kamloops became the latest to impose level-four restrictions on Monday, with lawn watering allowed only one day a week and non-essential water use deterred.
This report by Nono Shen, The Canadian Press, was first published July 21, 2026.
