Latest news with #BCWildfireService
Global News
6 hours ago
- Climate
- Global News
Kiskatinaw River wildfire prompts new evacuations in northeast B.C.
The Peace River Regional District in northeast British Columbia has issued new evacuation orders and alerts for the Kiskatinaw River area as the wildfire threatens to grow in the coming days. The district issued its third evacuation order and a fourth evacuation alert Tuesday night following a recommendation from the BC Wildfire Service. Get breaking National news For news impacting Canada and around the world, sign up for breaking news alerts delivered directly to you when they happen. Sign up for breaking National newsletter Sign Up By providing your email address, you have read and agree to Global News' Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy The service said it expects aggressive and challenging fire behaviour with hot, dry and windy conditions. Winds from the west are expected to reach over 50 kilometres per hour on Thursday and up to 60 km/h by Friday, and will continue to drive the fire toward Kelly Lake and the Alberta border. The Peace River Regional District says most of the activity occurred on the south side of both the north and south fingers of the fire. It has reportedly spread across Highway 52 in some areas and residents are reminded that conditions may quickly change. Story continues below advertisement The number of active wildfires in B.C. ticked down below 70 on Tuesday, with more than half classified as burning out of control.
CTV News
7 hours ago
- Climate
- CTV News
New evacuation orders and alerts issued for Kiskatinaw River as wildfire set to grow
The Kiskatinaw River wildfire is seen in an image from the B.C. Wildfire Service. The Peace River Regional District in northeast British Columbia has issued new evacuation orders and alerts for the Kiskatinaw River area as the wildfire threatens to grow in the coming days. The district issued its third evacuation order and a fourth evacuation alert Tuesday night following a recommendation from the BC Wildfire Service. The service said it expects aggressive and challenging fire behaviour with hot, dry and windy conditions. Winds from the west are expected to reach over 50 kilometres per hour on Thursday and up to 60 kph by Friday, and will continue to drive the fire toward Kelly Lake and the Alberta border. The Peace River Regional District says most of the activity occurred on the south side of both the north and south fingers of the fire. It has reportedly spread across Highway 52 in some areas and residents are reminded that conditions may quickly change. The number of active wildfires in B.C. ticked down below 70 on Tuesday, with more than half classified as burning out of control. This report by The Canadian Press was first published June 4, 2025.
CBC
a day ago
- Climate
- CBC
Alaska Highway closed again by wildfire in B.C.'s far north
A raging wildfire in B.C.'s far north has, once again, prompted the closure of the Alaska Highway (Highway 97) in both directions west of Fort Nelson. The Summit Lake wildfire, which grew overnight and now covers 26.3 square kilometres, was first discovered on May 28, but grew aggressively between Sunday and Monday, prompting a highway closure for much of Monday. While the Alaska Highway partially reopened to allow single-lane alternating traffic around 9:30 p.m. PT on Monday, it was closed again around 12 p.m. PT on Tuesday due to the blaze. Commuters have been asked to check DriveBC for the latest on the stretch, with no detour available. An evacuation alert remains in place for a stretch of the highway in the Tetsa Lake area, with the Northern Rockies Regional Municipality warning people there to be ready to leave at a moment's notice. The B.C. Wildfire Service (BCWS) said in an online update that, while maintaining access to the critical Highway 97 stretch was a priority, the safety of crews and the public was its primary objective. "This wildfire experienced growth overnight; none of the growth was in the direction of Highway 97 or toward identified assets," the Tuesday update reads. "Weather will continue to have impacts on fire behaviour and highway access." The BCWS said in its update that it conducted a planned ignition on Monday to limit the wildfire's impact on the highway, and larger planned ignitions would be conducted on Tuesday. "Much of this fire is in incredibly difficult and inaccessible terrain," the update reads. "Ground crews are prioritizing work in accessible areas, and helicopters are providing overhead support." Wildfires concentrated in north Sarah Budd, a BCWS fire information officer, said that the bulk of wildfire activity was occurring in the northern half of the province, particularly the northeast corner. As of Tuesday afternoon, there were just under 70 fires burning in B.C. "In the northeast, where we have the bulk of our current fire activity, we are expecting slightly higher winds today and tomorrow," she told CBC News on Tuesday. "And with significantly higher winds on Thursday and Friday into the weekend, while we don't anticipate lightning or precipitation today or tomorrow, what we do think we're going to see is an extension of ... hot, dry, windy conditions." Both of B.C.'s "wildfires of note" — those that are particularly visible or pose a threat to public safety — are in northern B.C., the Summit Lake wildfire being one of them. The Kiskatinaw River wildfire near the B.C.-Alberta border in northeastern B.C. has led to 55 addresses being put on evacuation order, and officials say strong winds increased fire activity on that blaze. As of Tuesday afternoon, it covers an area of just under 40 square kilometres. Highway 52 East remains closed in the area due to the blaze, which is burning close to the Pembina Steeprock gas processing facility.
CTV News
a day ago
- Climate
- CTV News
Alaska Highway reopened after nearby wildfire forced closure near Fort Nelson, B.C.
A wildfire burning northeast of Summit Lake, B.C. is seen in this handout image on Monday, June 2, 2025. THE CANADIAN PRESS/HO — BC Wildfire Service *MANDATORY CREDIT* The stretch of the Alaska Highway near Fort Nelson, B.C., that closed Monday due to a nearby wildfire has reopened to single lane traffic. Drive BC announced the update in a post around 9:30 p.m., saying the status could change quickly depending on wildfire activity. The BC Wildfire Service says the blaze is about 26 square kilometres in size and is burning out of control about 10 kilometres northeast of Summit Lake. It is one of two 'wildfires of note' in the province and prompted the Northern Rockies Regional Municipality to issue an evacuation alert on Monday for the Tetsa River Area. The wildfire service's latest update says the so-called Summit Lake fire 'experienced significant overnight growth' between Sunday and Monday and 'continues to display aggressive fire behaviour,' growing towards Highway 97. It says the single-lane alternating traffic is now open between kilometres 580 and 589, but notes that visibility is limited in the area. The service says there are more than 70 wildfires burning in the province as of Tuesday morning, 50 per cent of which are considered out of control. This report by Brieanna Charlebois, The Canadian Press, was first published June 3, 2025.
CTV News
a day ago
- Climate
- CTV News
Alaska Highway reopened after nearby wildfire forced closure near Fort Nelson, B.C.
A wildfire burning northeast of Summit Lake, B.C. is seen in this handout image on Monday, June 2, 2025. THE CANADIAN PRESS/HO — BC Wildfire Service *MANDATORY CREDIT* The stretch of the Alaska Highway near Fort Nelson, B.C., that closed Monday due to a nearby wildfire has reopened to single lane traffic. Drive BC announced the update in a post around 9:30 p.m., saying the status could change quickly depending on wildfire activity. The BC Wildfire Service says the blaze is about 26 square kilometres in size and is burning out of control about 10 kilometres northeast of Summit Lake. It is one of two 'wildfires of note' in the province and prompted the Northern Rockies Regional Municipality to issue an evacuation alert on Monday for the Tetsa River Area. The wildfire service's latest update says the so-called Summit Lake fire 'experienced significant overnight growth' between Sunday and Monday and 'continues to display aggressive fire behaviour,' growing towards Highway 97. It says the single-lane alternating traffic is now open between kilometres 580 and 589, but notes that visibility is limited in the area. The service says there are more than 70 wildfires burning in the province as of Tuesday morning, 50 per cent of which are considered out of control. This report by Brieanna Charlebois, The Canadian Press, was first published June 3, 2025.
