PlaceDossier / BC places / Wildfires / 2023

BC wildfire season 2023

In 2023, the BC Wildfire Service recorded 2,296 wildfires, and their mapped perimeters cover 3,855,693 ha (38,557 km²): the largest season since 1990 by area. 119 fires grew past 1,000 ha and account for 99% of that area; the largest was wildfire G90288 at 768,915 ha. Large fires reached Northern Rockies, West Kelowna, Tumbler Ridge and Sparwood and 2 other municipalities.

Wildfire G90288, 2023: 768,915 haDonnie Creek wildfire, 2023: 619,073 haWildfire G90628, 2023: 477,723 haEkwan Tower wildfire, 2023: 275,175 haBig Creek wildfire, 2023: 176,539 haWildfire G90207, 2023: 170,937 haNogah Creek wildfire, 2023: 74,686 haWildfire G92940, 2023: 71,003 haLittle Blue River wildfire, 2023: 60,064 haGreat Beaver Lake wildfire, 2023: 47,888 haCrater Creek wildfire, 2023: 46,504 haBush Creek East wildfire, 2023: 45,745 haTatuk Lake wildfire, 2023: 44,643 haWildfire G90273, 2023: 42,839 haOppy Lake wildfire, 2023: 40,580 haIttsi Creek wildfire, 2023: 37,794 haWildfire G81934, 2023: 36,284 haNorth Lucas Lake wildfire, 2023: 34,826 haPatry Creek wildfire, 2023: 33,426 haWildfire G91534, 2023: 32,257 haStoddart Creek wildfire, 2023: 29,584 haW Kiskatinaw River wildfire, 2023: 25,066 haWildfire R11282, 2023: 24,811 haWildfire G90981, 2023: 22,394 haNation Creek wildfire, 2023: 22,373 haGatcho Lake wildfire, 2023: 21,927 haWildfire G60325, 2023: 21,385 haWildfire G90292, 2023: 21,056 haKostel Cone wildfire, 2023: 20,746 haWildfire G80875, 2023: 19,137 haPorcupine Mountain wildfire, 2023: 18,195 haKookipi Creek wildfire, 2023: 17,561 haKlawli Lake wildfire, 2023: 17,334 haHell Raving Creek wildfire, 2023: 16,668 haTomias Mountain wildfire, 2023: 14,462 haMcDougall Creek wildfire, 2023: 13,970 haEagle Bluff wildfire, 2023: 13,757 haWildfire G92947, 2023: 12,806 haWells Creek wildfire, 2023: 12,142 haWildfire G90956, 2023: 12,107 haRossmoore Lake wildfire, 2023: 11,413 haCasper Creek wildfire, 2023: 11,248 haWildfire R21217, 2023: 9,799 haDownton Lake wildfire, 2023: 9,565 haTintagel wildfire, 2023: 8,044 haTeepee Lake wildfire, 2023: 7,864 haWildfire G91494, 2023: 6,996 haPinkut Creek wildfire, 2023: 6,891 haParrot Lookout wildfire, 2023: 6,758 haSatah Mountain wildfire, 2023: 6,652 haBoundary Lake wildfire, 2023: 6,422 haWhitefish Lake wildfire, 2023: 6,143 haMilligan Hills wildfire, 2023: 6,109 haYearling Creek wildfire, 2023: 5,870 haHwf-130 wildfire, 2023: 5,770 haKatsberg Creek wildfire, 2023: 5,713 haMia Creek wildfire, 2023: 5,420 haWildfire G90949, 2023: 5,278 haOcock Lake wildfire, 2023: 5,220 haPonderosa Creek wildfire, 2023: 5,022 haDavidson Creek wildfire, 2023: 4,879 haTrumpeter Mountain wildfire, 2023: 4,834 haGreer Creek wildfire, 2023: 4,768 haTekaiziyis Ridge wildfire, 2023: 4,762 haStein Mountain wildfire, 2023: 4,734 haWildfire G60858, 2023: 4,652 haSt. Mary's River wildfire, 2023: 4,641 haPeavine Creek wildfire, 2023: 4,427 haPelican Lake wildfire, 2023: 4,422 haLittle Andrews Bay wildfire, 2023: 4,369 haHorsethief Creek wildfire, 2023: 4,111 haCrag Creek wildfire, 2023: 3,830 haWildfire G91013, 2023: 3,782 haLum Creek wildfire, 2023: 3,458 haAnahim Peak wildfire, 2023: 3,347 haMuskovite Lakes wildfire, 2023: 3,215 haWildfire G93291, 2023: 3,056 haYoung Creek wildfire, 2023: 3,053 haWildfire R31391, 2023: 3,031 haWildfire R11388, 2023: 3,020 haRed Creek wildfire, 2023: 2,948 haTownsend Creek wildfire, 2023: 2,785 haWildfire K21379, 2023: 2,407 haUpper Park Rill C… wildfire, 2023: 2,382 haDean River wildfire, 2023: 2,338 haMount Con Reid wildfire, 2023: 2,321 haMount Bingay wildfire, 2023: 2,298 haTaigai Lake wildfire, 2023: 2,264 haDeep Bay wildfire, 2023: 2,253 haOld Man Lake wildfire, 2023: 2,061 haMount Athelstan wildfire, 2023: 1,923 haRaymond Peak wildfire, 2023: 1,909 haElbow Lake wildfire, 2023: 1,800 haWildfire K22757, 2023: 1,772 haMurtle Lake wildfire, 2023: 1,712 haBivouac Creek wildfire, 2023: 1,591 haMaselpanik Creek wildfire, 2023: 1,518 haWildfire G51474, 2023: 1,503 haKamma Creek wildfire, 2023: 1,457 haPeacock Creek wildfire, 2023: 1,445 haWildfire C51981, 2023: 1,407 haHall Creek wildfire, 2023: 1,338 haBull Canyon Park wildfire, 2023: 1,306 haWildfire C53002, 2023: 1,299 haBranch Road wildfire, 2023: 1,298 haLladnar Creek wildfire, 2023: 1,295 haCorkscrew Creek wildfire, 2023: 1,282 haHiren Creek wildfire, 2023: 1,265 haWildfire R23091, 2023: 1,256 haMount Wartenbe wildfire, 2023: 1,252 haAngel Lake wildfire, 2023: 1,172 haWildfire N40596, 2023: 1,160 haWildfire G41560, 2023: 1,144 haCottonwood Creek wildfire, 2023: 1,129 haGlen Lake wildfire, 2023: 1,116 haWildfire G11532, 2023: 1,100 haYola Creek wildfire, 2023: 1,070 haLardeau Creek East wildfire, 2023: 1,039 haTeare Creek wildfire, 2023: 1,006 ha

Fires of 1,000 ha or more in 2023Other years since 1990

The 119 large fires of 2023, largest first

  1. 1G90288May 11, 2023 · Northern Rockies768,915 ha
  2. 2Donnie Creek (G80280)May 11, 2023 · Peace River, Electoral Area B619,073 ha
  3. 3G90628June 4, 2023 · Northern Rockies477,723 ha
  4. 4Ekwan Tower (G92498)July 31, 2023 · Northern Rockies275,175 ha
  5. 5Big Creek (G60666)June 6, 2023 · Bulkley-Nechako, Electoral Area C; Stikine Region176,539 ha
  6. 6G90207July 16, 2023 · Northern Rockies170,937 ha
  7. 7Nogah Creek (G91313)June 28, 2023 · Northern Rockies74,686 ha
  8. 8G92940August 22, 2023 · Northern Rockies71,003 ha
  9. 9Little Blue River (R91162)July 6, 2023 · Stikine Region60,064 ha
  10. 10Great Beaver Lake (G51279)July 7, 2023 · Fraser-Fort George, Electoral Area G47,888 ha
  11. 11Crater Creek (K52125)July 22, 2023 · Okanagan-Similkameen, Electoral Area G; Okanagan-Similkameen, Electoral Area B46,504 ha
  12. 12Bush Creek East (K21633)July 12, 2023 · Columbia-Shuswap, Electoral Area F; Thompson-Nicola, Electoral Area O (Lower North Thompson)45,745 ha
  13. 13Tatuk Lake (G41307)July 7, 2023 · Bulkley-Nechako, Electoral Area F; Cariboo, Electoral Area I44,643 ha
  14. 14G90273May 11, 2023 · Northern Rockies; Peace River, Electoral Area B42,839 ha
  15. 15Oppy Lake (VA1381)July 7, 2023 · Bulkley-Nechako, Electoral Area E; Cariboo, Electoral Area J40,580 ha
  16. 16Ittsi Creek (G90709)June 4, 2023 · Northern Rockies37,794 ha
  17. 17G81934July 20, 2023 · Peace River, Electoral Area B36,284 ha
  18. 18North Lucas Lake (G41502)July 8, 2023 · Bulkley-Nechako, Electoral Area D; Bulkley-Nechako, Electoral Area E34,826 ha
  19. 19Patry Creek (G91739)July 14, 2023 · Northern Rockies33,426 ha
  20. 20G91534July 6, 2023 · Northern Rockies32,257 ha
  21. 21Stoddart Creek (G80291)May 13, 2023 · Peace River, Electoral Area B29,584 ha
  22. 22W Kiskatinaw River (G70645)June 3, 2023 · Peace River, Electoral Area D; Tumbler Ridge25,066 ha
  23. 23R11282July 7, 2023 · Bulkley-Nechako, Electoral Area E24,811 ha
  24. 24G90981June 24, 2023 · Stikine Region22,394 ha
  25. 25Nation Creek (G60853)June 22, 2023 · Bulkley-Nechako, Electoral Area C; Fraser-Fort George, Electoral Area G22,373 ha
And 94 more
  1. 26Gatcho Lake (G41158)June 25, 2023 · Cariboo, Electoral Area J; Bulkley-Nechako, Electoral Area E21,927 ha
  2. 27G60325May 7, 2023 · Peace River, Electoral Area B21,385 ha
  3. 28G90292May 11, 2023 · Northern Rockies; Peace River, Electoral Area B21,056 ha
  4. 29Kostel Cone (K21384)July 7, 2023 · Thompson-Nicola, Electoral Area A (Wells Gray Country)20,746 ha
  5. 30G80875June 22, 2023 · Peace River, Electoral Area B19,137 ha
  6. 31Porcupine Mountain (G60861)June 23, 2023 · Bulkley-Nechako, Electoral Area C18,195 ha
  7. 32Kookipi Creek (V11337)July 8, 2023 · Fraser Valley, Electoral Area A; Thompson-Nicola, Electoral Area I (Blue Sky Country)17,561 ha
  8. 33Klawli Lake (G50872)June 22, 2023 · Bulkley-Nechako, Electoral Area C17,334 ha
  9. 34Hell Raving Creek (C52978)August 27, 2023 · Cariboo, Electoral Area J16,668 ha
  10. 35Tomias Mountain (R90877)June 23, 2023 · Stikine Region14,462 ha
  11. 36McDougall Creek (K52767)August 15, 2023 · Central Okanagan West; West Kelowna13,970 ha
  12. 37Eagle Bluff (K52318)July 29, 2023 · Okanagan-Similkameen, Electoral Area A; Okanagan-Similkameen, Electoral Area B13,757 ha
  13. 38G92947August 20, 2023 · Stikine Region12,806 ha
  14. 39Wells Creek (R11387)July 8, 2023 · Bulkley-Nechako, Electoral Area E12,142 ha
  15. 40G90956June 23, 2023 · Northern Rockies12,107 ha
  16. 41Rossmoore Lake (K22024)July 20, 2023 · Thompson-Nicola, Electoral Area J (Copper Desert Country); Thompson-Nicola, Electoral Area M (Beautiful Nicola Valley - North)11,413 ha
  17. 42Casper Creek (K71535)July 10, 2023 · Squamish-Lillooet, Electoral Area B; Squamish-Lillooet, Electoral Area A11,248 ha
  18. 43R21217July 7, 2023 · Bulkley-Nechako, Electoral Area C9,799 ha
  19. 44Downton Lake (K71649)July 12, 2023 · Squamish-Lillooet, Electoral Area A9,565 ha
  20. 45Tintagel (R11244)July 7, 2023 · Bulkley-Nechako, Electoral Area B8,044 ha
  21. 46Teepee Lake (C11499)July 9, 2023 · Cariboo, Electoral Area I7,864 ha
  22. 47G91494July 6, 2023 · Northern Rockies6,996 ha
  23. 48Pinkut Creek (R11277)July 7, 2023 · Bulkley-Nechako, Electoral Area B6,891 ha
  24. 49Parrot Lookout (R21234)July 7, 2023 · Bulkley-Nechako, Electoral Area E6,758 ha
  25. 50Satah Mountain (C51562)July 7, 2023 · Cariboo, Electoral Area J6,652 ha
  26. 51Boundary Lake (G80220)May 1, 2023 · Peace River, Electoral Area B6,422 ha
  27. 52Whitefish Lake (G51564)July 10, 2023 · Bulkley-Nechako, Electoral Area C6,143 ha
  28. 53Milligan Hills (G81530)July 9, 2023 · Peace River, Electoral Area B6,109 ha
  29. 54Yearling Creek (N21453)July 8, 2023 · East Kootenay, Electoral Area F5,870 ha
  30. 55Hwf-130 (G91933)July 18, 2023 · Northern Rockies5,770 ha
  31. 56Katsberg Creek (G50856)June 23, 2023 · Bulkley-Nechako, Electoral Area C5,713 ha
  32. 57Mia Creek (N22240)July 23, 2023 · East Kootenay, Electoral Area F5,420 ha
  33. 58G90949June 23, 2023 · Northern Rockies5,278 ha
  34. 59Ocock Lake (G51344)July 7, 2023 · Fraser-Fort George, Electoral Area G; Bulkley-Nechako, Electoral Area C5,220 ha
  35. 60Ponderosa Creek (K71705)July 12, 2023 · Thompson-Nicola, Electoral Area I (Blue Sky Country)5,022 ha
  36. 61Davidson Creek (G41493)July 9, 2023 · Cariboo, Electoral Area I4,879 ha
  37. 62Trumpeter Mountain (VA1456)July 8, 2023 · Central Coast, Electoral Area C4,834 ha
  38. 63Greer Creek (G41511)July 7, 2023 · Bulkley-Nechako, Electoral Area F4,768 ha
  39. 64Tekaiziyis Ridge (R21377)July 8, 2023 · Bulkley-Nechako, Electoral Area E4,762 ha
  40. 65Stein Mountain (K71634)July 12, 2023 · Thompson-Nicola, Electoral Area I (Blue Sky Country)4,734 ha
  41. 66G60858June 22, 2023 · Peace River, Electoral Area B4,652 ha
  42. 67St. Mary's River (N11805)July 17, 2023 · East Kootenay, Electoral Area C; East Kootenay, Electoral Area E4,641 ha
  43. 68Peavine Creek (G70644)June 3, 2023 · Peace River, Electoral Area D4,427 ha
  44. 69Pelican Lake (C11437)July 9, 2023 · Cariboo, Electoral Area I4,422 ha
  45. 70Little Andrews Bay (R21673)July 9, 2023 · Bulkley-Nechako, Electoral Area E4,369 ha
  46. 71Horsethief Creek (N22243)July 23, 2023 · East Kootenay, Electoral Area G; East Kootenay, Electoral Area F4,111 ha
  47. 72Crag Creek (VA1638)July 12, 2023 · Central Coast, Electoral Area A; Cariboo, Electoral Area J3,830 ha
  48. 73G91013June 28, 2023 · Northern Rockies3,782 ha
  49. 74Lum Creek (N12352)July 17, 2023 · East Kootenay, Electoral Area C3,458 ha
  50. 75Anahim Peak (C51571)July 11, 2023 · Cariboo, Electoral Area J3,347 ha
  51. 76Muskovite Lakes (G60655)June 6, 2023 · Peace River, Electoral Area B3,215 ha
  52. 77G93291August 31, 2023 · Northern Rockies3,056 ha
  53. 78Young Creek (VA1735)July 15, 2023 · Central Coast, Electoral Area C3,053 ha
  54. 79R31391July 8, 2023 · Bulkley-Nechako, Electoral Area G3,031 ha
  55. 80R11388July 7, 2023 · Bulkley-Nechako, Electoral Area E3,020 ha
  56. 81Red Creek (G80223)May 5, 2023 · Peace River, Electoral Area B2,948 ha
  57. 82Townsend Creek (C11290)July 7, 2023 · Cariboo, Electoral Area I2,785 ha
  58. 83K21379July 7, 2023 · Thompson-Nicola, Electoral Area A (Wells Gray Country)2,407 ha
  59. 84Upper Park Rill C… (K52813)August 18, 2023 · Okanagan-Similkameen, Electoral Area C; Okanagan-Similkameen, Electoral Area G2,382 ha
  60. 85Dean River (VA1335)July 8, 2023 · Central Coast, Electoral Area A2,338 ha
  61. 86Mount Con Reid (V82558)August 3, 2023 · Strathcona, Electoral Area D (Oyster Bay - Buttle Lake)2,321 ha
  62. 87Mount Bingay (N12546)August 6, 2023 · East Kootenay, Electoral Area A2,298 ha
  63. 88Taigai Lake (G11293)July 8, 2023 · Cariboo, Electoral Area I; Bulkley-Nechako, Electoral Area F2,264 ha
  64. 89Deep Bay (R91184)July 6, 2023 · Stikine Region2,253 ha
  65. 90Old Man Lake (R21250)July 7, 2023 · Bulkley-Nechako, Electoral Area G; Bulkley-Nechako, Electoral Area B2,061 ha
  66. 91Mount Athelstan (V31300)July 7, 2023 · Squamish-Lillooet, Electoral Area C1,923 ha
  67. 92Raymond Peak (N12589)August 6, 2023 · East Kootenay, Electoral Area B1,909 ha
  68. 93Elbow Lake (VA1462)July 9, 2023 · Central Coast, Electoral Area C1,800 ha
  69. 94K22757July 17, 2023 · Thompson-Nicola, Electoral Area O (Lower North Thompson); Thompson-Nicola, Electoral Area B (Thompson Headwaters)1,772 ha
  70. 95Murtle Lake (K20469)May 17, 2023 · Thompson-Nicola, Electoral Area A (Wells Gray Country)1,712 ha
  71. 96Bivouac Creek (G52955)August 23, 2023 · Bulkley-Nechako, Electoral Area C1,591 ha
  72. 97Maselpanik Creek (V12722)August 13, 2023 · Fraser Valley, Electoral Area B1,518 ha
  73. 98G51474July 8, 2023 · Bulkley-Nechako, Electoral Area C1,503 ha
  74. 99Kamma Creek (N71918)July 17, 2023 · East Kootenay, Electoral Area C; Central Kootenay, Electoral Area B1,457 ha
  75. 100Peacock Creek (R21178)July 6, 2023 · Bulkley-Nechako, Electoral Area G1,445 ha
  76. 101C51981July 20, 2023 · Cariboo, Electoral Area K1,407 ha
  77. 102Hall Creek (N72170)July 22, 2023 · Central Kootenay, Electoral Area D1,338 ha
  78. 103Bull Canyon Park (C51974)July 20, 2023 · Cariboo, Electoral Area K1,306 ha
  79. 104C53002August 28, 2023 · Cariboo, Electoral Area J; Cariboo, Electoral Area K1,299 ha
  80. 105Branch Road (C11243)July 7, 2023 · Cariboo, Electoral Area I1,298 ha
  81. 106Lladnar Creek (N12046)July 21, 2023 · East Kootenay, Electoral Area A; Sparwood1,295 ha
  82. 107Corkscrew Creek (C11405)July 9, 2023 · Cariboo, Electoral Area J1,282 ha
  83. 108Hiren Creek (N42074)July 17, 2023 · Columbia-Shuswap, Electoral Area B1,265 ha
  84. 109R23091July 21, 2023 · Bulkley-Nechako, Electoral Area E1,256 ha
  85. 110Mount Wartenbe (G73406)September 13, 2023 · Peace River, Electoral Area E1,252 ha
  86. 111Angel Lake (R92525)August 5, 2023 · Stikine Region1,172 ha
  87. 112N40596May 20, 2023 · Columbia-Shuswap, Electoral Area B1,160 ha
  88. 113G41560July 7, 2023 · Bulkley-Nechako, Electoral Area F; Cariboo, Electoral Area I1,144 ha
  89. 114Cottonwood Creek (K72705)August 9, 2023 · Thompson-Nicola, Electoral Area I (Blue Sky Country)1,129 ha
  90. 115Glen Lake (K53294)September 16, 2023 · Central Okanagan West; Okanagan-Similkameen, Electoral Area F1,116 ha
  91. 116G11532July 10, 2023 · Fraser-Fort George, Electoral Area G1,100 ha
  92. 117Yola Creek (V11256)July 7, 2023 · Fraser Valley, Electoral Area B1,070 ha
  93. 118Lardeau Creek East (N52251)July 23, 2023 · Central Kootenay, Electoral Area D; Columbia-Shuswap, Electoral Area B1,039 ha
  94. 119Teare Creek (G30210)May 4, 2023 · Fraser-Fort George, Electoral Area H1,006 ha

Under each fire: when it started and the places with the most of it. Bars compare each fire with the season's largest.

Wildfires recorded2,296
Area inside mapped perimeters3,855,693 ha (38,557 km²)
Fires of 1,000 ha or more119, covering 3,800,585 ha
Rank by area since 19901st of 36

Every fire of 1,000 ha or more since 1990, as the BC Wildfire Service mapped it. A perimeter is the fire's outer edge: patches inside it may not have burned, and the hectares are the area inside it. A fire that burned through the winter keeps the year it started. Names are the province's; a fire without one goes by its fire number. The area adds up every perimeter of the season, small fires included; where two fires' perimeters overlap, the ground is counted twice, so totals can differ from the BC Wildfire Service's season summary.

Past fire is history, not a forecast. The chance of fire on a lot today depends on what the record doesn't show: the forest and grass around it, the slope, what has been thinned or burned since, and how far it is from a fire hall.

Sources: BC Wildfire Fire Perimeters – Historical, BC Wildfire Service; BC Wildfire Fire Perimeters – Current, BC Wildfire Service; BC Wildfire Fire Incident Locations – Historical, BC Wildfire Service; BC Wildfire Fire Locations – Current, BC Wildfire Service (Open Government Licence – British Columbia), as published on October 2, 2026. Outlines simplified and places measured by PlaceDossier.

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