Wildfire context for BC Highway 18 – Cowichan Valley
Highway 18 is a key east-west connection through dry summer forest, rural properties, forestry lands, recreation access, and communities around Cowichan Lake. Wildfire can affect lake access, forestry traffic, residents, campgrounds, and smoke while conditions near Duncan may remain different from the western end.
Why this place-level view is useful
The route connects a major population corridor with a forested recreation and residential area. FireRadar can show official incident proximity along the road while DriveBC remains authoritative for closures, restrictions, and current highway status.
Smoke forecast and air quality
Wildfire smoke forecast and measured air-quality information answer different questions. FireRadar keeps ECCC forecast smoke and AQHI observations separate so a model forecast is not presented as a local air-quality measurement.
Official wildfire source for British Columbia
Official incident markers come from the BC Wildfire Service feed. Marker locations are informational and do not replace official emergency notices or local emergency instructions.
Emergency, closure, and travel information
FireRadar is an informational wildfire map. It does not issue evacuation instructions, park closures, road closures, travel advisories, fire bans, campground or trail status, or fire-spread predictions. Follow the applicable provincial, territorial, municipal, Indigenous, parks, transportation, and emergency authorities for operational decisions.