Northwest B.C. sees increase in wildfire activity, new evacuation orders

Northwest B.C. is starting off September with an increase in wildfire activity.

Warm temperatures and high winds are contributing to a couple of new evacuation orders being issued by the Regional District of Bulkley-Nechako and surrounding First Nations.

On Sunday, a new evacuation order was issued by that district, Skin Tyee Nation, and Wet’suwet’en First Nation for an area south of Burns Lake, due to the Tekaiziyis Ridge Wildfire.

The fire, situated on the border of the Nadina River, is currently burning at a size of approximately 3,700 hectares and is classified as out of control. The reported cause of this fire is yet to be determined.

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Southeast of the fire on the northern border of the Nechako Reservoir, a new evacuation order has been issued by the district for the area surrounding Lucas Lake due to a wildfire burning there.

Classified by BC Wildfire Services as the North and South Lucas Lake wildfires, they are both currently burning out of control with a combined estimated size of approximately 9,000 hectares.

The Lucas Lake wildfire is suspected to have been caused by lightning.

Both fires are in fairly remote areas and not currently threatening any large settlements.

There are currently 203 fires still burning out of control in the province and B.C. remains under a state of emergency due to fire and drought conditions.

Due to human-caused climate change, extreme weather, such as wildfires, is expected to become more frequent and intense in the future.