Wildfires have become a reality for many British Columbians, but some are getting a closer look than others. For professional hockey player Shane Hanna, he got a front-row seat to the Pear Lake wildfire’s escalation, and it was all caught on video.
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Pear Lake Wildfire
The Pear Lake Wildfire was first discovered on July 17, 2026, and it is still burning today. Currently, it covers 147,677.17 hectares, and has resulted in 7 evacuation alerts and 8 evacuation orders.
It’s believed to have been caused by lightning, as when lightning strikes an object it can release enough heat to ignite trees or other nearby fuels. More notably, the fire is considered out of control, which means that it is “spreading or it is anticipated to spread beyond the current perimeter, or control line.”
Caught on Video
For those not located near any wildfires, it may be hard to imagine exactly how big these flames get.
Shane Hanna, a Canadian ice hockey player who was born in B.C., showed his viewers on Instagram the sheer size of the Pear Lake wildfire as it began to grow. While the day started with some wind and mild smoke, the horizon soon turned orange fast. At the time of the video, he was located in the Cariboo Regional District, which received an evacuation alert.
“It smells like the biggest campfire ever,” he says in the video. “There’s ashes falling from the sky.”
View this post on Instagram
Hanna leaves the area shortly after, capturing footage of the flames from afar. In his post’s caption, he writes, “We had to evacuate but the house and yard is in great shape. Not sure if I’m able to return before heading over to Germany. Appreciate the kind messages the past few days. Everyone is safe and looked after.”
