The operations director at the British Columbia wildfires service confirmed, "Firefighters are preparing for a 'tough week' as hot and dry conditions are expected to persist."

Cliff Chapman explained, "Winds are blowing at 40 to 70 kilometers per hour in southern British Columbia, making it difficult to extinguish and contain fires burning in the area."

He added, "The conditions, along with the steep terrain of the fires, including the wildfires at Downton Lake that are burning about 110 kilometers northwest of Whistler, British Columbia, also make it difficult to use heavy equipment and the air fleet effectively."

Chapman continued that crews working on the Downton Lake fire, which has already destroyed at least ten homes around Gun Lake, will aim to guide the flames away from the community amid windy conditions.

An evacuation order covering over 200 properties around the lake was issued on Tuesday and quickly upgraded to critical, urging seasonal and permanent residents to leave for Lillooet or Whistler.

The Thompson-Nicola Regional District also issued an evacuation alert late Wednesday for nearly 75 properties near Adams Lake in the Rivers and Summit areas due to wildfires on Lower East Adams Lake.

The Columbia Shuswap Regional District issued an evacuation alert for the northern extension of Tsutswecw Provincial Park due to the same fire.

The service reports that there are about 360 active wildfires in British Columbia, with 193 of them considered out of control and 13 notable fires either highly visible or posing potential threats to public safety.