Evacuation alert issued for Mount Wartenbe Wildfire near Chetwynd
Posted October 10, 2023 11:54 am.
The Peace River Regional District has issued an Evacuation Alert for the Chetwynd area near the out-of-control Mount Wartenbe wildfire.
This includes the properties near Highway 97, west of Chetwynd Pulp Mill Road and east of Guillet Sub, as well as certain properties on Rimsmith Road, the district says.
Related: Lightning strikes new out-of-control wildfire near Chetwynd
“This alert is being issued because of the area’s potential danger to life and health,” it said. “Wait for an Evacuation Order to be issued BEFORE evacuating.”
The PRRD has issued Mount Wartenbe Wildfire Evacuation Alert #1. This includes properties near Highway 97 (West of Chetwynd Pulp Mill Rd and East of Guillet Sub) and certain properties on Rimsmith Rd. For details, please visit https://t.co/CmufTaSjmI pic.twitter.com/AU8XmvThdY
— Peace River Regional District (PRRD) (@prrdistrict) October 10, 2023
The fire was approximately 960 hectares Tuesday morning, which is up significantly since Monday when it was burning at 70 hectares.
The district says it will give residents as much notice as possible if an Evacuation Order is issued, but it says conditions are changing so this may not allow for much warning.
The fire, which was sparked by lightning strikes in the area, was discovered around 4 p.m. Sunday. It 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 and Climate Change Canada, 12 communities across B.C. set new daily maximum temperature records on Saturday.
With files from Charlie Carey and Pippa Norman
