Two wildfires threatening the village of Clinton, B.C., and surrounding areas merged late Saturday, combining into a fire covering nearly 670 square kilometers.

The Pear Lake and Fiftynine Creek blazes, which had already destroyed structures on the outskirts of Clinton, continued to burn actively, moving north and northeast of the Chasm area.Fire information officer Shae Stearns noted that while the fire behavior had decreased, crews still faced significant ground firefighting efforts.The merged fire forced evacuations in Clinton and surrounding regions, with residents of 70 Mile and nearby areas facing evacuation orders.A local business owner reported losing everything, including two homes, as flames engulfed his property.The wildfire service updated its mapping, showing the combined size of the fires and highlighting the ongoing risks posed by drought conditions.Despite some rain in Metro Vancouver, the Clinton area remained dry, increasing the risk of aggressive fire behavior.Evacuation alerts were also issued in other parts of British Columbia, with emergency management centers monitoring the situation closely.The merged fire has caused extensive damage, with crews working to establish perimeters and prevent further spread.