Latest news with #PocketKnifeCreek
CTV News
8 hours ago
- Climate
- CTV News
B.C. crews brace for extreme fire behaviour when winds from cold front hit northeast
The Pocket Knife Creek wildfire burns south of Fort Nelson, B.C., in this Sunday, June 8, 2025 handout photo. THE CANADIAN PRESS/HO, B.C. Wildfire Service *MANDATORY CREDIT* The BC Wildfire Service says crews are preparing for 'extreme fire behaviour' in the province's northeastern region as a second dry cold front is forecast to move through. The service says wind gusts up to 80km/hr are expected in some areas, which could fan the flames and cause growth in the region that is the focus of the province's fire fight. It will be the second cold front that has passed through the Fort Nelson area, with the first that moved through on Sunday causing increased fire behaviour. The warning comes after the Pocket Knife Creek wildfire formed over the weekend, quickly growing into a wildfire of note, one of three in B.C.'s northeast that have prompted a series of evacuation orders. That blaze is the result of two fires merging, and the service is now reporting that it spans more than 610 square kilometres. The wildfire service is warning drivers that Highway 97 will remain closed north of Fort Nelson until this evening due to the Summit Lake Fire, another fire of note. It is currently about 106 square kilometres in size and the service says the incoming cold front will bring conditions that may cause it to spread further. The Kiskatinaw River is the third fire of note in the province, listed at about 130 square kilometres in size. There are currently more than 80 fires burning across the province, with more than half listed as burning out of control. The fires have prompted Environment Canada to issue a special air quality statement for the northeastern region, saying smoke is causing poor air quality and reduced visibility. That statement, which covers Fort Nelson and the Peace River area, says conditions are expected to persist for the next 24 to 48 hours. This report by Brieanna Charlebois, The Canadian Press, was first published June 9, 2025.
CBC
a day ago
- Climate
- CBC
Evacuation orders issued in B.C.'s Peace River due to Pocket Knife Creek wildfire
The B.C. Wildfire Service says the Pocket Knife Creek wildfire in the province's northeast has merged with another blaze, increasing its size "substantially." It says the fire is now more than 610 square kilometres in size and is considered an out-of-control wildfire of note. The Peace River Regional District says the fire poses an "immediate danger to life safety" and as of 5 p.m. PT on Sunday it had issued two evacuation orders in areas surrounding Highway 97 and Buckinghorse River. It also issued an evacuation alert for an area west of the highway and north of Trutch. According to DriveBC, Highway 97 is closed between Prophet River and North Sikanni Brake Check due to the advancing wildfire and limited visibility due to smoke. Officials issued earlier evacuation orders due to the Kiskatinaw River wildfire, another wildfire of note near the B.C.-Alberta border that's about 130 square kilometres in size. The wildfire service says the third wildfire of note is the Summit Lake wildfire, which it expects will keep growing due to winds and warm weather. As of Sunday afternoon it was about 106 square kilometres in size.
Yahoo
a day ago
- Climate
- Yahoo
Peace River Regional District in B.C. northeast issues new evacuation order
The BC Wildfire Service says the Pocket Knife Creek wildfire in the province's northeast has merged with another blaze, increasing its size "substantially." It says the fire is now more than 610 square kilometres in size and is considered an out-of-control wildfire of note. The Peace River Regional District says the fire poses an "immediate danger to life safety" and issued an evacuation order Sunday for the area approximately nine kilometres west of the Buckinghorse River, and around the Redfern Trail down toward Redfern Lake. The regional district issued earlier evacuation orders due to the Kiskatinaw River wildfire, another wildfire of note near the B. C-Alberta border that's about 130 square kilometres in size. The service says the third wildfire of note is the Summit Lake wildfire, and is also expected to keep growing due to winds and warm weather, and is now about 106 square kilometres. The BC Wildfire Service told a news conference last Friday it was expecting "extreme fire behaviour" over the weekend, warning flames from the Kiskatinaw River wildfire could be pushed by strong winds could closer to the small community of Kelly Lake, about 80 kilometres south of Dawson Creek. This report by The Canadian Press was first published June 8, 2025. The Canadian Press
