Lightning strikes new out-of-control wildfire near Chetwynd
Posted October 9, 2023 8:18 am.
Last Updated October 9, 2023 8:23 am.
An out-of-control wildfire is burning near Chetwynd, in B.C.’s Peace River region, after lightning strikes sparked the blaze Sunday.
According to the BC Wildfire Service, the wildfire — which has yet to be named — was discovered just after 4 p.m.
The fire is estimated to be about 70 hectares in size, and is “continuing to spread and is not responding to suppression efforts.”
The fire service says it is employing a “full response” to the wildfire and will continue to suppress the fire until it is deemed “out.”
The blaze comes as a dozen B.C. communities set new daily heat records this Thanksgiving weekend.
According to a weather summary issued Sunday morning by Environment Canada, 12 communities across B.C. set new daily maximum temperature records on Saturday.
Around Metro Vancouver, West Vancouver set a new record of 25 C, breaking the previous record set in 2022 by one degree. Pitt Meadows also broke its previous record set in 2022, increasing the maximum temperature by 0.7 C to 27.7 C.
Other records were broken in Bella Bella, Burns Lake, Mackenzie, Port Hardy, Powell River, Prince George, Prince Rupert, Quesnel, and Tatlayoko Lake.
Despite the wave of high temperatures, forecasters are calling for a rainy Thanksgiving Monday with clouds expecting to roll in Sunday evening and last until Thursday.
–With files from Pippa Norman
