Prince George, B.C. –  The  hot dry weather has made the  fire danger rating  climb  into the extreme category for much of the province.

(at right,  areas in red are  where  fire danger rating is  considered extreme- image courtesy BC Wildfire Management Branch)The   Alaska Highway  has been reopened to single lane alternating traffic as high winds pushed the Big Beaver Creek fire across the  highway last night.

The Puntzi Lake wildfire in the Cariboo has increased in size to 1,200 hectares and an evacuation order is in place.  The fire danger rating throughout most of the Cariboo is expected to  be listed as extreme before the day is through and  the Cariboo Regional District is  calling on all residents to think about being prepared to evacuate their homes or  cabins  should that become necessary.  The forecast is calling for thunderstorms  on Friday and with that will be lightning,  causing the potential  for more fires to be sparked throughout the region.

There were 19 new fires in B.C. yesterday. As of noon today, there were 197 active fires throughout the province (of these, 20 are active fires of note), with eight states of local emergency due to wildfire, and nine Evacuation Alerts and Orders currently in effect.

As of today more than  80 properties in the province were on Evacuation Order with approximately 500 homes on Evacuation Alert. These numbers
will fluctuate as orders and alerts are put into place or rescinded.

With a significant number of wildfires burning throughout B.C., the Province continues to caution everyone in B.C. to be diligent with fire safety and to report all wildfires to authorities.