Fontas River wildfire expands to reach 6,286 hectares
The fire near the Fontas River east of Fort Nelson, which is an ‘overwintering’ fire, has now burned 6,286 hectares.

FORT NELSON, B.C. — The fire near the Fontas River east of Fort Nelson has now grown to a whopping 6,286 hectares in size.
The fire, which is being monitored by helicopter reconnaissance flights, continues to burn ‘out of control,’ according to the BC Wildfire Service (BCWS).
It is an ‘overwintering’ fire from 2023, which means it started in that previous wildfire season, smouldered underground throughout the winter and reignited in a following season.
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“Managing these wildfires is complex,” the BCWS said. “They burn deep in the forest floor—often several feet down in layers of peat and duff—and by the time smoke appears, the fire is already well-established.
“Suppression takes significant time, water and personnel, especially in areas with limited access and few natural water sources.”
First reported on May 11th, the fire’s suspected cause is believed to be a lightning strike.
Energeticcity.ca will update this story as more information becomes available.
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This is one of various wildfires being tackled by BCWS in the Fort Nelson zone, including one blaze which has ballooned to beyond 70,000 hectares.
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