B.C.'s major wildfires remain out of control, despite calmer day of wind

CBC

2 days ago

Crews fighting large B.C. wildfires may get a reprieve from harsh winds and temperatures Tuesday, but the major fires in the northeast of the province continue to grow out of control, according to the B.C. Wildfire Service (BCWS).
Fire information officer Kelly Desrosiers says much lower temperatures, higher humidity and the lack of wind are all expected to result in significantly less fire behaviour for the Kiskatinaw River wildfire Tuesday.
The Kiskatinaw River fire, located nearly 60 kilometres southeast of Dawson Creek, has grown to more than 216 square kilometres. It has been designated as a wildfire of note, meaning the fire is highly visible or poses a potential threat to public safety.
As of Monday afternoon, as many as seven buildings and mobile homes had been destroyed by the fire in the small community of Kelly Lake, B.C., home to about 70 people.
The wildfire service hopes to do planned ignitions in certain areas to reduce the likelihood of flames moving past a fire guard if the wind picks up again, according to Desrosiers.
"We're not in the clear yet, but today will provide some reprieve," she said.
The area saw four challenging days from Thursday to Sunday, with winds gusting up to 70 kilometres per hour.
The forecast for the coming days calls for wind from the east, which Desrosiers said would further challenge firefighting efforts, but some rain as well.
"That would certainly help things a lot," she said.
Pocket Knife Creek wildfire doubles
The Pocket Knife Creek fire doubled in size to 1,293 square kilometres Tuesday.
About 150 kilometres southwest of Fort Nelson, the wildfire of note has resulted in multiple evacuation orders and alerts from the Peace River Regional District.
A stretch of Highway 97 has closed in both directions due to the wildfire. Visit the DriveBC website for the most up-to-date information.
The wildfire service expects Tuesday's lighter winds and lowered temperatures to reduce fire behaviour, though it noted the fire's status remains "out of control," according to its latest update.
Summit Lake wildfire expected to grow
B.C.'s third wildfire of note, the Summit Lake wildfire, measured about 385 square kilometres Tuesday.
"Extreme fire behaviour and heavy smoke prevented ground crews from being able to safely engage in suppression operations and danger tree assessments along the transportation corridor," the BCWS said in an update.
The service noted wildfire-damaged trees can be "especially dangerous as they become weak and unstable and can fall without warning."
Danger tree assessors and fallers will work to lessen that risk, according to the service.
Warm weather and winds are expected to further increase the fire's size, which is located more than 100 kilometres west of Fort Nelson.
The Northern Rockies Regional Municipality has issued an evacuation order in the Tetsa River area.
The wildfire service has said to expect delays and closures on Highway 97; a section is currently closed, according to DriveBC.