Little Bobtail Lake fire – photo courtesy Wildfire Management Branch

Prince George, B.C. – The Little Bobtail Lake fire 50km southwest of Prince George, and 500 metres off the southwestern shore of Norman Lake, is now 20% contained.

“A containment line was established along the northern flank of the fire from Norman Lake Forest Service Road and Bobtail Forest Service Road,” reads an update on the Wildfire Management Branch website. “Another control line was reinforced along the eastern flank of the fire. The southeast corner of the fire is also still holding from work completed over the last couple days.”

Despite the partial containment, the blaze has grown to an estimated 17,000 hectares.

Over 200 firefighters are battling the fire along with 12 helicopters, 22 pieces of heavy equipment and 8 airtankers.

The blaze has forced BC Parks to close Dahl Lake Provincial Park and Bobtail Mountain Provincial Park to all recreational users.

An evacuation order is also in effect, affecting 80 people. There has been no loss of structures.

Premier Christy Clark toured the fire Friday and issued a plea “to all British Columbians to exercise caution and be vigilant this long weekend if they are heading into the back country.”

She also added it’s an extra early start to the fire season noting “There has not been a fire this big, this early in the year since 1983, and this one (Little Bobtail Lake) is bigger.”

Investigators believe the fire was caused by humans as there is no evidence of a lightning strike or downed power line.