BC Wildfire crews hope for rain as season continues in NE
Posted October 11, 2023 4:02 pm.
While the wet fall weather is helping improve the wildfire situation in southern B.C., the BC Wildfire Service says the fire season is still very much in swing in other areas of the province.
New fires continue to be sparked in some parts of B.C., including near Chetwynd, where the Mount Wartenbe blaze is continuing to spread.
The fire was discovered on Sunday, Oct. 6, and is believed to have been caused by lightning.
According to fire information officer Pedro Roldan-Delgado, the out-of-control fire was an estimated 1,200 hectares as of 2 p.m. Wednesday.
“We have been getting a little bit of rain. It has been reported that it did receive two millimetres of rain overnight, so with that, it does help calm the fire behaviour. So it was showing rank 1 and rank 2 behaviour today on the ground,” he explained.
Roldan-Delgado says it’s not clear right how much more rain will fall on the area in the coming days.
“Having the lower temperatures and any kind of precipitation does help … just to calm down the fire behaviour,” he said.
The fire is currently burning away from Chetwynd, Roldan-Delgado tells CityNews, adding the BC Wildfire Service has still recommended an evacuation alert to the Peace River Regional District “just to be on the safe side.”
“Right now, I guess the most concern we have on this fire is … if the winds do shift or anything. But right now, it’s still on the east side of Pine River and still burning away from Chetwynd,” Roldan-Delgado said.
The BC Wildfire Service has the fire categorized as a wildfire of note, meaning it is “highly visible or poses a potential threat to public safety.”
All of northeastern B.C. is at Drought Level 5 — the highest on the six-level scale. Level 5 means “adverse impacts on both communities and ecosystems are almost certain,” according to the province.
Roldan-Delgado says drought conditions, above-seasonal temperatures in the area, and fuel types in the northeast have all contributed to bigger fires.
“I would imagine that they are tired,” he said of fire crews, some of whom have been deployed 10 times this season.
The BC Wildfire Service is reminding people to remain vigilant and to report any smoke or fires. You can do so at 1-800-663-5555 or *5555 on a cell phone.
