Several wildfires across the Regional District of Bulkley-Nechako have grown significantly since yesterday.
As a result, three separate evacuation alerts in rural areas across the district are still in effect for over 85 people.
Prince George Fire Information Officer Amanda Reynolds says all of the fires are out of control including the Sutherland Road blaze north of Fort Fraser and Fraser Lake.
“It’s currently at 700 hectares. So we’ve got six firefighters, one officer, one helicopter and 10 pieces of heavy equipment. The priority is public safety, wildland structures and we don’t want it to cross Highway 27.”
Reynolds says that fire is burning towards the highway and is about 15-20 kilometres away. The alert affects over 20 people there.
The Evacuation Alert area now covers the area east of the Sutherland Forest Service Road to the Stuart River, east of Settlement Road to Blue Mountain Forest Service Road and north to Pitka 100 Road.
Reynolds says high winds and lightning are to blame.
“There was a lot of aggressive fire behaviour and growth. There is going to be an air tanker and some scoopers helping with that fire,” says Reynolds.
Meanwhile, two other fires burning out of control have prompted evacuation alerts.
A Naltesby Lake Evacuation Alert has been issued for the south end of the lake. It also includes west to Bobtail Forest Service Road, to 5 km east of Little Bobtail Lake and Naltesby Lake. That fire is reported to be over 250 hectares affecting 65 residents.
An Evacuation Alert has also been issued for Tatuk Lake and Finger Lake south of Vanderhoof.
“The Evacuation Alert is issued to persons residing or present in the area from the south of Bobtail Connector Forest Service Road, from Long Lake Forest Service Road, to Tatuk Lake Forest Service Road, and South to the Regional District of Bulkley-Nechako Boundary.”
That fire has grown to over 950 hectares after being reported at 200 hectares yesterday.
Chair of the regional district Bill Miller says BC Parks is making sure people there are aware.
“We’re not really sure how many tourists are in there. But there’s two lodges in there and some campsites, some unmanned campsites…and there’s a provincial rec-site in there, too,” says Miller.
The evacuation alerts are heads up that an evacuation order is possible if the situation worsens. The Prince Goerge Fire Centre will notify the regional district on the situation.
We’ll have more information as it happens.