The Pelican Lake fire – photo courtesy Wildfire Management Branch

Williams Lake, B.C. – Four of the five lightning-caused fires in the Cariboo Friday have been extinguished.

“We had initial attack crews on scene with the support of tankers on one of the fires and as of last night all but one are out,” says Emily Epp, fire information officer with the Cariboo Fire Centre.

“The only one still burning is west of Anahim Lake and that has been tracked at 2.8 hectares and we have 19 firefighters working on that today, it should be out by Monday they think.”

She attributes the quick success to “the rain and the lower humidity, including lower temperatures.”

Epp adds “we’re just very thankful for the quick reports from the public which enables us to get our crews out there very quickly and to put them out.”

She says the Pelican Lake fire, which is burning 10km east of Pelican Lake and 80km northwest of Quesnel, later today, is now 85% contained.

30 firefighters are currently battling that 164 hectare lightning caused blaze.