07/17/2026
If youβre planning to hike, explore, or adventure in the backcountry this weekend, please PAY CLOSE ATTENTION TO THE FORECAST.
Environment and Climate Change Canada, in partnership with the BC Wildfire Service, has issued a weather notification for increased wildfire activity through Saturday.
The combination of hot temperatures, dry conditions, and thunderstorms means there is an elevated risk of new wildfire starts from lightning, along with strong winds that can rapidly spread existing fires.
High temperatures are also expected this weekend. Heat-related illness and dehydration are among the most common reasons hikers require search and rescue during the summer months.
Bring more water than you think youβll need, replenish electrolytes on longer hikes, take regular breaks in the shade, and donβt ignore early warning signs such as excessive fatigue, dizziness, nausea, headaches, muscle cramps, or confusion. Once youβre dehydrated, it becomes much harder to recover while continuing your hike.
Thunderstorms are especially dangerous in alpine terrain. If your objective includes exposed ridges or summits, consider changing your plans or choosing a lower-elevation hike. Lightning can strike well ahead of the rain, and if you hear thunder, youβre already close enough to be struck.
π₯ Learn more about lightning safety here:
https://youtu.be/zz2nVOcxaPA?si=MSmAPkV5gac8z0mU
If youβre caught in a thunderstorm:
β°οΈ Descend immediately from summits and ridgelines.
β Avoid isolated trees, cliff edges, and bodies of water.
βοΈ Spread your group out.
β° Wait at least 30 minutes after the last clap of thunder before continuing.
Poor air quality can cause headaches, coughing, eye irritation, and reduced exercise tolerance. Those with asthma or other respiratory conditions should carefully consider reducing strenuous outdoor activity if smoke conditions worsen.
If you see smoke or a wildfire, report it immediately:
BC Wildfire Service
βοΈ 1-800-663-5555
π± *5555 from a cell phone
Stay safe this weekend. Make conservative decisions, HAVE AN EXIT PLAN, and remember that turning around is always the right decision if conditions change.
π₯ Watch our video about hikers trapped by a wildfire π₯ , see comments for π.
πΈ Lions Bay Search and Rescue
