UPDATE: Doig River wildfire reaches 650 hectares

UPDATE: BCWS says the wildfire is now “being held,” which means it is “projected, based on fuel and weather conditions and resource availability, to remain within the current perimeter, control line or boundary.”

FORT ST. JOHN, B.C. — Doig River First Nation is reporting “smaller levels of activity” around the wildfire that led to two evacuation orders earlier this week. 

The fire, discovered Sunday, May 12th, currently sits at 650 hectares in size.

“With smaller activity, we want to reaffirm that the fire is very much still active in the area,” an update on the Doig River First Nation’s Facebook page reads.

“The fire is actively burning less than 1.5 kilometres from the community, and wind, new fuel sources, etc., could lead to immediate and large-scale growth.”

The update says progress has been made on the fire’s south side, but winds are expected to change direction in the coming days, which could lead to the fire moving closer to the community.

“As we have seen across the north, a fire is able to move 25km in a matter of an hour without notice,” the update reads. “[The Doig River First Nation fire] started as a small fire and grew to 300 Hectares over a single day.”

Evacuees are being urged to renew their Emergency Support Services (ESS) on Thursday, May 16th, with the ESS centre they originally registered with.

Evacuees staying in Fort St. John will be able to renew their ESS at the North Peace Arena.