With an increase of fire activity in the Prince George Fire Centre, the BC Wildfire Service is urging the public to do their part to prevent wildfires.
Warm temperatures and dry, windy conditions on Saturday led to increased fire activity on several wildfires in the Peace region. There are currently five wildfires of note in the area and the Peace River Regional District has issued two evacuation alerts.
The Robson Valley is currently under a fire ban, though that ban does not apply to small campfires.
• The Siphon Creek wildfire (G80068) is located four kilometres south of the Doig River First Nation community. BC Wildfire Service crews have been making progress on this wildfire this past week. The fire is currently estimated to be 4,000 hectares. The Peace River Regional District has issued an evacuation alert.
• The Doig River wildfire (G80107) is located two kilometres north of the Doig River First Nation Community. It is currently estimated to be 100 hectares. Ten firefighters and a helicopter are on site continuing fire suppression efforts.
• Two new wildfires started 30 kilometres east of Fort St. John on Saturday. The Voight Creek wildfire (G80114) is estimated to be 10 hectares and the Clearview wildfire (G80115) is estimated to cover about 12 hectares. Airtankers worked on these fires Saturday evening and ground crews are continuing suppression efforts today. The Peace River Regional District has issued an evacuation alert for these two fires.
• The Beaton Airport Road wildfire (G80046) is 85% contained. While the weekend’s weather increased the fire activity on this wildfire, crews successfully held the wildfire within the established containment lines. The fire covers about 7,035 hectares.
The BC Wildfire Service would like to remind the public that Category 2 open fires are prohibited throughout the entire Prince George Fire Centre. Category 3 open fires are also prohibited in the Fort St. John, Fort Nelson and Dawson Creek natural resource districts.
These prohibitions are in place to prevent wildfires caused from open burning. Human-caused fires take valuable resources away from naturally-occurring wildfires.
Members of the public have an important role to play in wildfire prevention. The public is urged to help play their part by following open fire prohibitions in their area and by reporting wildfires or illegal open burning.
