The wildfire season is off to an early start.
The Regional District of Bulkley-Nechako has issued an evacuation alert for the Endako area. The area includes all properties east of Savory Road and west of Endako Mine Road, north of the railway and south of the PNG pipeline, and all properties off Columbia Street. Anyone in the affected area must be ready to leave on short notice.
The Four Mile Creek fire northwest of Fraser Lake near Endako, about 160 kilometres west of Prince George, is estimated at 25 hectares.
It was first spotted Saturday at 2:51 p.m. and is still burning out of control.
The evacuation alert was issued on Sunday when the fire got within a kilometre of the town of 600, but was not confirmed on the BC WIldfire website until Monday.
On Sunday there were two out-of-control fires burning west of Prince George.
The other fire not responding to suppression efforts is between Cluculz Lake and Vanderhoof, about five kilometres north of Highway 16.
The North Sinkut River fire was about eight hectares in size. It was reported Saturday at 1:58 p.m.
Both are believed to be caused by humans or human activity.
The Cariboo Fire Centre is dealing with the Burgess Creek fire, which is about 50 north of Williams Lake. It was whipped up by strong winds Sunday and greww to 1,600 ha.
An evacuation alert has been issued for the area, approximately 20 km east of Alexandria.
The Burgess Creek Wildfire, approximately 20 kilometres East of Alexandria, 45 kilometres southeast of Quesnel and 50 Kilometres north of Williams Lake, remains at roughly 1,600 hectares in size.
In B.C., there were 44 new fire starts in the past week and of those, 20 are out, five are being held, three are out of control and 16 are under control.
For updates on the current fire situation, go to the BC WIldfire website.
To report a wildfire call 1-800-663-5555 or text *5555.
Controlled burns planned at Vanderhoof Airport, Fort St. James
The BC Wildfire Service and District of Vanderhoof will be conducting controlled burn operations at Vanderhoof Airport intermittently over the next few weeks.
Smoke may impact residents near the airport and it may be visible in the surrounding area but it is expected to dissipate quickly.
The fire trials are for training purposes for BC Wildfire crews and provide cross-training opportunities for Vanderhoof Fire and Rescue staff and members of Nadleh Whut’en First Nation.
The burn operations help determine moisture levels in different layers of fuel to help crews prepare for the wildfire season. Information gathered helps to more accurately predict flame height and rate of spread, depending on wind strength and direction and humidity levels.
The BC Wildfire Service announced Monday it will be also conducting a prescribed burn at Fort St. James on the west shore of Stuart Lake to enhance community protection and reduce wildfire risk.
Timing of this burn will depend on weather and site conditions, but it could begin as early as Wednesday.
The controlled burn will provide cross-training opportunities for Fort St. James Fire and Rescue and members of Nak'azdli Whut'en First Nation.
