Fires grow within Fort Nelson zone but rain aids firefighting efforts

FORT ST. JOHN, B.C. — Three of the larger fires in northeast B.C. have grown in size since the BC Wildfire Service’s last update, despite the large amount of rain in the region during the week.

In a statement, the Prince George Fire Centre (PGFC) says 100 millimetres of rain received in the Peace region “reduced fire behaviour” and prompted a cancellation of the campfire bans within Dawson Creek and Fort St. John fire zones.

However, the ban remains within the Fort Nelson zone. 

The rain meant the significant fires, including the Kiskatinaw River fire near the Kelly Lake community and the Pocket Knife Creek fire have shrunk slightly, with the blaze south of Dawson Creek shrinking from 26,324 to 26,315 hectares.

Meanwhile, the Pocket Knife Creek fire south of Prophet River has gone from 151,844 to 151,310 hectares. Both fires are listed as ‘being held,’ but area restrictions remain.

“Due to the significant amount of precipitation [the fires] received, both are listed as ‘being held,’” reads the statement. “[Both fires] have been removed as ‘wildfires of note.’”

However, several fires did increase in size, including:

• G90216, located near Etcho Creek, increased from 212,038 to 217,409 hectares. A holdover fire from previous seasons, it was believed to have been caused by lightning.
• G90283, in the Petito River area, grew 2,391 hectares from 5,164 to 7,555. It was also caused by a lightning strike.
• Meanwhile, the fire in the Shekilic River area went from 69,229 to 70,572 hectares.

Energeticcity.ca will provide further information on these wildfires when it becomes available. Check our wildfire page for the latest updates.