An update by British Columbia’s wildfire service says trace amounts of rain helped dampen part of a fire that has destroyed homes in the south Cariboo region, but it wasn’t enough to make a dent in the persistent drought wracking the area. The province’s drought map shows the south Cariboo — where the fire destroyed homes in the Clinton, B.C., area last week — is at level four on a scale of five. The Similkameen, Okanagan and Kettle River basins are also sitting at level four, while the Upper Nicola River shows a high risk of water scarcity. are classified as drought level three, including eastern Vancouver Island, the Lower Mainland and the Sea to Sky region, as well as the Clearwater and lower and south Thompson basins. This report by The Canadian Press was first published July 29, 2026.