Clinton Residents Fined $15,000 for Violating Evacuation Order

People who violated an evacuation order issued because of a wildfire in the B.C. village of Clinton have been fined a total of $15,000 over the past two weeks. Local authorities and police are urging residents to stay out of evacuation zones for their own safety.

Clinton residents were forced to leave their homes on July 24 after a wildfire broke out near Pear Lake. The fire remains out of control and has spread across an area of approximately 1,500 square kilometres.

Authorities and police have warned that anyone who enters an evacuation-order area and puts their life at risk could be issued a $1,150 violation ticket.

There are currently around 100 active wildfires across B.C., including four considered major fires. According to the B.C. Wildfire Service, about four per cent of the wildfires recorded in the province between 2016 and 2025 — approximately 560 incidents — were linked to human negligence or were considered suspicious.

Officials say they remain concerned about human-caused fires amid the current wildfire conditions and are urging the public to follow evacuation orders and all fire-safety instructions.