fire crews are battling an uncontained wildfire in central British Columbia, one of seven human-caused blazes reported in the Cariboo region Saturday afternoon.
The Burgess Creek Fire is burning over an area of 0.5 km2approximately 50 kilometers south of Quesnel, a city located approximately 415 kilometers northeast of Vancouver.
The fire is emitting a thick plume of smoke visible from Quesnel, Williams Lake and Highway 97C, according to Madison Dahl of BC Wildfire. However, no structure is threatened for the moment, the spokesperson confirmed Saturday afternoon.
There are more than 25 people on the ground. We have heavy equipment that will work all night
Madison Dahl said on Saturday, specifying that there were also helicopters and planes on site.
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The Burgess Creek Fire is not threatening any structures, according to BC Wildfire.
Photo: BC Wildfire
Dry conditions and strong winds helped the fire spread Saturday afternoon and evening, Dahl said. Crews worked through the night to establish control lines as temperatures got cooler and will re-evaluate their strategy Sunday morning, she added.
The six other fires reported Saturday at the Cariboo Fire Center are all out, contained or in the process of being extinguished, according to BC Wildfire.
This is largely thanks to the efforts of the Quesnel and Williams Lake volunteer firefighters
explains Ms. Dahl.
It was only through the sharing of resources, rapid response and assistance from these fire departments that we were able to properly respond to all fires.
However, she considers that it was a large number of fires to manage
in a single day, very early in the season.
Other fires reported within the country
Crews are also battling uncontrolled wildfires that broke out in other parts of the province’s interior over the weekend. An early prelude to what promises to be another wildfire season very difficult
warned British Columbia authorities.
Two wildfires were reported in the Prince George area on Saturday, and both are currently considered out of control.
Kamloops Fire Department and fire crews responded to a grass fire near Cooney Bay, approximately 20 kilometers east of downtown Kamloops on the north bank of the Thompson River. According to BC Wilfire, it was a human-caused fire.
The fire was contained Saturday evening and crews were expected to remain on scene overnight, Kamloops Fire Chief Ken Uzeloc said in a social media post shortly before 10 p.m. local time. .
About 15 kilometers north of Lytton, the uncontained Skoonka Creek Fire is burning over an area of 0.3 km2. According to its website, BC Wilfire has limited its response because there is no immediate risk to life or property.
In the southeast of the province, a small fire was also discovered Saturday and is burning about 20 kilometers north of Grand Forks, according to BC Wildfire. The service suspects a human origin.
Madison Dahl urged people enjoying nature to be careful and report smoke and other signs of fire to authorities immediately.
Every time we have to respond to a human-caused fire, especially after a lightning strike, it reduces the resources we have available to fight natural fires
she explains about the Cariboo fires. These are fires that could be avoided.
With information from Moira Wyton
