45 new wildfires burn in northeast British Columbia over two-day period

The BC Wildfire Service has responded to 45 new wildfires in northeast British Columbia over a two-day period, the Ministry of Forests, Lands and Natural Resource Operations said on Tuesday.

The ministry said in a statement on Tuesday evening that the BC Wildfire Service has responded to 45 new wildfires in the Prince George Fire Centre since the morning of April 18. Many of these fires are burning in the Peace region, where 14 fires are currently estimated to be over 100 hectares in size, the statement said.

The new wildfires occurred just days after the ministry said on April 15 that BC Wildfire Service crews had responded to 59 wildfires in the province since April 12, including 12 in the Prince George Fire Centre. Almost all of the wildfires were human-caused, the ministry said at the time.

Currently, there are six fires of note in the Prince George Fire Centre. Four evacuation alerts or evacuation orders have been put in place by the Peace River Regional District and the District of Hudson’s Hope.

The fires of note include:

• The Charlie Lake fire west of Charlie Lake, near Fort St. John, is estimated at 250 hectares in size. The local fire department is responding. The Peace River Regional District has issued an evacuation order and alert;
• The South Taylor Hill fire, south of the community of Taylor, is estimated at 850 hectares in size. BC Wildfire Service firefighters are on site assisting with the local fire department. The Peace River Regional District has issued an evacuation order and alert;
• The Baldonnel fire, five kilometres east of the community of the same name, is estimated at 420 hectares in size. Fire activity has significantly decreased and the local fire department is responding. The Peace River Regional District has issued an evacuation order and alert;
• The Attachie fire, which is located 35 kilometres west of Fort St. John, along Highway 29, is estimated at 500 hectares in size. BC Wildfire Service crews are on site. Travel advisories have been issued along Highway 29;
• The Beaton Airport Road fire, which is located 45 kilometres north of Fort St. John, is estimated at 4,500 hectares in size, “although ascertaining an accurate size is difficult due to smoke and poor visibility,” the statement said. Resources are being sent to this incident and no evacuation alerts or orders have been issued at this time; and
• The Hudson’s Hope fire, located four kilometres northwest of Hudson’s Hope, is estimated at 300 hectares in size. BC Wildfire Service crews are on site assisting the local fire department. The District of Hudson’s Hope has issued an evacuation alert;

Many local roads and highways have been affected by these fires and associated smoke, with up-to-date information on current road closures available at www.drivebc.ca.

Due to the unseasonably warm and dry conditions and the current level of fire activity, the Prince George Fire Centre is also prohibiting all open fires larger than a campfire (a half-metre wide by a half-metre high, or smaller) as of noon local time on Wednesday.

Here's a map of all the active wildfires in the Peace Region according to the B.C. Wildfire Service pic.twitter.com/H2qkzq3ri5

— Peter Houston (@peadarhouston) April 19, 2016