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we started the circuit on July 3rd - weather was beautiful if hot and dry. We made it to Sandy Lake on day 5 and were smelling a lot of smoke from the bigger fire to the South, near 100 mile house - then the park rangers came by and told us a fire ban was in effect and said we'd likely have to evac - they'd return and let us know. Next day we went into Unna Lake to do the hike to the waterfall, but just before we landed at the trailhead the rangers came by and gave us the evac order - get out ASAP and do whatever it takes. We were lucky, as we only lost one day of our planned 8 day trip, and only missed out on that hike to the falls. Lots of people were far worse off - everyone who had started after us and hadn't passed "The Chutes" was turned back, and had to redo the 3 long portages to get back to the registration center - that would be a real bummer. But kudos to the rangers, they scoured the lakes looking for all the paddlers that they had on the registration lists and made sure everyone was getting out.
talked to a woman who was camped near the start of the fire, at the South end of Issac Lake - said it happened quick after a lightning storm. Saw 5 distinct plumes of smoke rising and watched as it blossomed into a fire, taking pictures, till they realized it was getting really close. rangers at that time told them to hustle onward, but they'd be ok - then more rangers told them to just get out, but they did finish the circuit.
when I checked out at the registration center, they said that there were something like 250 fires in BC the day before, and there was lots of smoke all the way back and through Jasper NP. - finally cleared up in Banff and south of there.
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