Sundance Lake wildfire now 'being held' with wetline, says BCWS

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The fire as of June 5th - eight kilometres east of Chetwynd, near Sundance Lake, along Highway 97. (BCWS) — The wildfire as of June 5th – eight kilometres east of Chetwynd, near Sundance Lake, along Highway 97. (BCWS)

CHETWYND, B.C. — A wildfire in the Sundance Lake area near Chetwynd is now being held.

A 60-hectare wildfire near Sundance lake and Highway 97 is now being held, according to the BC Wildfire Service (BCWS).

This means the fire is projected to remain within the current perimeter, control line or boundary established by the wildfire service according to projected fuel available to the blaze and weather conditions.

Discovered on June 4th and ruled to have been caused by human activity, the Peace River Regional District (PRRD) issued an evacuation alert on June 5th for the surrounding area, which remains in effect as of 12 p.m. on June 8th.

According to the wildfire service, fire activity is now concentrated within the centre of the fire, and crews will continue to work on a 50-foot “wetline” around the fire. A wetline consists of wildfire personnel placing water on the fire’s “blackened edge” and around the fire travelling inwards, limiting the fire’s ability to spread quickly.

Sprinkler protection units have also been established in the area, and helicopters remain in the region supporting ground crews.