Wildfire Update: May 17th, 2024

FORT ST. JOHN, B.C. — Below are the updates to wildfires in northeast B.C. listed as ‘out of control,’ or ‘being held,’ as of May 17th:

‘Out of Control’ wildfire

BC Wildfire Service (BCWS) describes an ‘out of control’ wildfire as “a wildfire that is spreading or anticipated to spread beyond the current perimeter or control line.”

Parker Lake

The Parker Lake wildfire is currently 12,329 hectares in size.  Weather conditions Wednesday and Thursday have managed to slow the fire’s spread. Click here for the latest story on this fire.

BCWS has designated the fire as a ‘wildfire of note,’ meaning it is “highly visible or threatens public safety.”

Nogah Creek, Patry Creek, and Fontas area

The Nogah Creek wildfire, located east of Fort Nelson, is currently 83,567 hectares, while the wildfire in the Patry Creek area north of Fort Nelson is 71,792 hectares.

A third fire, located south of Nogah Creek and near Fort Nelson First Nation, is in the Fontas area. The fire is currently 35,777.2 hectares.

The wildfires are holdover fires from 2023, which smoldered underneath snow for the winter months.

According to BCWS, lightning is suspected of causing the fires to re-ignite. The Patry Creek wildfire, like the wildfire in Parker Lake, has been designated by the BCWS as a ‘wildfire of note.’

DriveBC says both Highway 77 to the Northwest Territories border and Highway 97 north of Wonowon to the north of Fort Nelson are closed in both directions.

Komie Lake

A lightning strike is suspected to have caused a fire in Komie Lake, located east of Fort Nelson.

The size of the fire is 10,586 hectares.

BCWS says a full response has been taken to combat this fire.

Smoldering throughout the winter, it was re-ignited on May 10th.

An evacuation order has not been issued for this fire.

Kome Yoyo Bypass

Located east of Fort Nelson, the wildfire in Kome Yoyo Bypass had a total area of 4,672 hectares as of May 17th.

BCWS says the suspected cause of the fire is lightning.

A full response has been given to this fire, the BCWS says.

Gote Creek/Tsea River

The wildfire in the Gote Creek/Tsea River area currently stands at 35,012 hectares.

This is a holdover wildfire from 2023, with the fire smoldering underneath the snow during the winter.

Lightning caused the fire to re-ignite on May 11th, according to the BCWS.

Petitot River

A holdover fire from 2023, the Petitot River wildfire located northeast of Fort Nelson, is suspected to have been re-ignited by lightning on May 11th.

The BCWS says the current size of the fire is 10,672 hectares.

No evacuation orders have been placed as a result of this fire.

Wildfires ‘being held.’

The wildfire service defines a fire being held as a fire “based on fuel, weather conditions and resource availability, to remain in the current perimeter, control line or boundary.”

Doig River First Nation

The wildfire located near the borders of Doig River First Nation, northeast of Rose Prairie, 

Is currently at 650 hectares.

BCWS says the suspected cause is human activity.

The First Nation and Peace River Regional District issued evacuation orders on May 13th, with most evacuees taking refuge in Fort St. John.

Doig River First Nation also issued a state of emergency, set to last until at least May 28th.

On May 17th, Doig River First Nation organized a community dinner for evacuees of the First Nation as well as those of Fort Nelson and Fort Nelson First Nation.  Click this link for details.

Cameron Lake

Located approximately 25 kilometres south of Hudson’s Hope, the wildfire in Cameron Lake has been reported as ‘being held’ as of May 15th, according to the BCWS.

The fire was discovered on May 12th and quickly grew to 300 hectares.

It is currently listed at 295 hectares, with BCWS having sent a full response to combat the flames.

The District of Hudson’s Hope issued a statement on May 13th via Facebook, saying two full attack crews and a unit crew, along with helicopters and tankers, were on the scene.

BCWS says the suspected cause of this fire is believed to be human activity or a “fire of undetermined cause” as it continues to investigate.