Soda Creek Fire, image courtesy BC Wildfire Management Branch

Prince George, B.C.- It has been one very hot weekend, in more ways than one.

While the temperature  was in the low 30’s,  no records were broken on Saturday or Sunday.

Saturday’s high was  32.4,  one full degree lower than the 33.4 record high set on July 12th in 2007.

Sunday saw the temperature peak at 33.2  hot indeed,  but still below the 35.6 recorded on July 13th in 2007.

The Nechako River was dotted with  folks tubing as  people looked  for ways to  beat the heat.

The real heat   is  being faced by the firefighters who have been  battling the  wildfires that have  sprung up in the region.

To the  south,  there is the  Euchiniko Lakes fire,  which,  at last estimate was pegged at 1200 hectares. The Cariboo Regional District declared a local state of emergency and ordered the Euchiniko Lake Ranch lodge evacuated

 A blaze  was sparked  at Soda Creek  last evening , and it is listed as an interface fire, although there has been no word as of publication  time of any evacuation order.

Crews continue to battle the Red Deer Creek Fire south east of Tumbler Ridge.

The Tenakihi fire, 50 kilometers west of  Williston Lake  is now  estimated to be 4,000 hectares. Crews are working 

to protect some infrastructure and timber values in the area, but many parts of the fire will be put into "modified response" and closely monitored, but not actively fought.

There is  blaze in the valley  of Morfee Lake,  6 kms east of Mackenzie. It is  estimated to be 80 hectares in size.   There is a 200 hectare blaze in the  Mugaha Drainage,  north of Mackenzie.

There is yet another blaze at Mt. Frank Roy but it is being allowed to burn in a modified response.

Over the weekend, firefighters from Ontario  arrived  in B.C. to assist  with  the fire fighting efforts.

Throughout most of the Prince George Fire Centre , the fire danger rating is high to extreme.  The public is advised to use  extra caution .