Pocket Knife Creek wildfire restriction reduced thanks to weather and firefighting efforts

FORT ST. JOHN, B.C. —  Thanks to weather and hardworking firefighters, the area restriction around the Pocket Knife Creek wildfire has been adjusted. 

On June 29th, the BC Wildfire Service (BCWS) amended the area restriction put in place due to the Pocket Knife Creek wildfire north of Pink Mountain.

 Due to fire suppression efforts and recent weather conditions, the wildfire is now considered “being held” at 151,310 hectares. 

“The area restriction in place for this wildfire is being reduced in size, but there is still a continued need to protect the public in areas where ongoing fire suppression activities are taking place,” BCWS stated in a June 29th press release. 

Starting at 2 p.m. on June 29th, the new area restriction came into effect, impacting the public’s access to Crown land within the geographical boundaries specified by BCWS.

Specifically, the area is only accessible to those: 

• Travelling to or from one’s residence
• Using a highway as defined in the Transportation Act
• Entering the area as a person acting in an official capacity
• Entering the area for an approved purpose of supporting wildfire suppression activities
• Entering the area for the purposes of carrying out an industrial activity at a regulated oil and gas site

Anyone found to be in the area for a reason not listed by BCWS could face a ticket of $1,150. 

The area restriction will remain in effect until October 15th, or until BCWS announces otherwise.