Mexican fire crews arrive as B.C. evacuation orders expand

A new contingent of Mexican firefighters arrived in Abbotsford on Thursday as British Columbia battles wildfires that have destroyed hundreds of homes and displaced thousands of residents. Personnel from Australia and New Zealand are also expected, joining crews already sent from Mexico, Alberta, Quebec and Yukon.

The BC Wildfire Service says roughly 7,000 properties are under evacuation order and another 3,500 are under evacuation alert. New orders cover properties along Westside Road in the Shelter Cove, Secret Point and Cinnabar Creek areas west of Okanagan Lake.

More than 2,600 people have been ordered out because of the out-of-control Quilpituk Creek fire. The blaze is south of the Bradley Creek wildfire, which officials said destroyed at least 230 homes near Vernon over the weekend. Near Clinton, the Thompson-Nicola Regional District says structures have burned on about 120 properties, excluding the village itself.

Some Fraser Canyon residents are returning after orders related to the Brunswick complex were downgraded Wednesday, but the Fraser Valley Regional District says they must remain ready to leave. The 480-square-kilometre complex remains out of control.

Premier David Eby said 200 Mexican firefighters are likely to be deployed to the Brunswick complex for 14 days as part of a 600-person international contingent. He said the province currently has sufficient resources, while warning that dry conditions and wildfire-causing lightning may intensify in southern B.C. over the coming weeks.