(UPDATE) BCWS continues contaiment work on Windy Creek wildfire

Updated: May 12th, 12:10 p.m.: This article has been updated to reflect a 12 p.m. update by the BC Wildfire Service.

FORT ST. JOHN, B.C. — The BC Wildfire Service (BCWS) is continuing containment work on a wildfire reported on May 11th 40 kilometres northeast of Chetwynd.

According to an update by BCWS on a wildfire in Windy Creek on May 12th, crews with heavy equipment are continuing to work on establishing and extending containment lines around a 40-hectare wildfire reported on May 11th.

At 12 p.m. on May 12th, BCWS reported the fire had increased in size to 200 hectares.

Overnight on May 11th, BCWS says heavy equipment established containment lines alongside the fire’s north and south flanks, with “minimal” fire behaviour observed along the perimeter due to “cooler temperatures and fair overnight recoveries.”

The service stated temperatures forecasted to be between 19 and 23 degrees Celsius, low humidity of 13 to 25 per cent and southeast winds of 10 to 20 kilometres per hour are expected to result in increased fire behaviour during the day of May 12th, with the possibility of spreading if “strong, gusty winds materialize.”

“Today, [crews] will continue working to extend the line around the perimeter,” the BCWS stated.

“Helicopters will support ground resources by dropping water to reduce fire behaviour and limit spread, which will allow crews and heavy equipment to work closer to the perimeter.”

The service also noted crews would use “small-scale hand ignitions” to “burn out pockets of unburned fuel” between containment lines and the fire perimeter.

The suspected cause of the wildfire has been updated to reflect the service suspects it was caused by human activity.

There are currently no area restrictions or evacuations issued for this wildfire as of 11:30 a.m. on May 12th.

Energeticcity.ca will update this story as more information becomes available.