Wildfires grow in Fort Nelson fire zone

FORT ST. JOHN, B.C. — In a period the province’s wildfire authority described as “challenging,” fires throughout northeast B.C. have grown, according to the BC Wildfire Service (BCWS).

BCWS issued a statement on Wednesday afternoon, June 4th, which stated “increasing temperatures and strong winds” could cause “extreme fire behaviour” in the Dawson Creek, Fort St. John and Fort Nelson zones over this weekend.

Four fires within the Fort Nelson zone have already increased, including:

• Fire G90323, located in Etset Lake, northeast of Fort Nelson and close to the B.C.-Northwest Territories border, has grown from 9,987 to 14,195 hectares. An overwintering fire from previous seasons, it smouldered during the winter months under a snowpack.
• The Etcho Creek wildfire, north of Fort Nelson, has gained 4,066 hectares since last update, with a current size of 77,287. This is another overwintering fire from 2024.
• Fire G90474, located approximately 10 kilometres from the Peggo airstrip nearing the Alberta border, has gone from 349 to 487 hectares.
• A fire near Stetlandia Creek northeast of Fort Nelson has grown from 828 to 2,095 hectares.

Meanwhile, the Kiskatinaw River wildfire, south of Dawson Creek near the community of Kelly Lake, is now 7,385 hectares, having grown 853 hectares as of the last update.

Each of the fires is listed as ‘out of control,’ meaning all are expected to increase beyond their perimeters.

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