Wildmare Creek Update: No reported structural or infrastructure damage, says PRRD

CHETWYND, B.C. — During a joint press conference with the BC Wildfire Service on April 25th, the Peace River Regional District (PRRD) said the Wildmare Creek Wildfire caused no damage to property or infrastructure in the area. 

The fire was reported just before 4:00 p.m. on April 24th and is currently at 76 hectares and is still listed as ‘out of control’, according to the BCWS. 

A section of Highway 97 between Stone Creek and Kurjata Subdivisions was also closed, only opening up to single-lane alternating traffic on Thursday morning, according to DriveBC.

“There is no reported structure loss,” said PRRD Emergency Operations Centre director Ryan Kirkham, adding that the Chetwynd Fire and local RCMP helped evacuate residents.

Others joining the press conference included PRRD regional chair Brad Sperling and BCWS Fire Information Officer Sharon Nickel.

Nickel says overnight conditions have enabled BCWS to manage this fire.

“There is a decrease in winds that took care of some of that fire behaviour,” said Nickel. “This makes it more accessible to get in there with direct attack and further suppress things.”

On Wednesday evening, just before 7:00 p.m., the PRRD announced an evacuation order in the Pine River area.

According to the PRRD, the order was rescinded to an evacuation alert around 11:00 a.m. Thursday morning.