Beatton Airport Rd fire – photo courtesy BC Wildfire Service

Prince George, B.C. – The wildfire situation in the Peace has worsened.

Incident information officer Marg Drysdale with the BC Wildfire Service says two wildfires in the region, the Beatton Airport Road fire and the Stoddart Road fire have combined to become a single fire and is now being referred to as simply the Beatton Airport Road fire.

Due to aggressive fire behaviour, she says it now covers over 10,000 hectares.

“An incident management team is coordinating the BC Wildfire Service’s response to this incident and additional resources have been requested.

“Currently 106 firefighters, five helicopters and six pieces of heavy equipment are working on this wildfire, with the support of airtankers. Ground crews will be working through the night to contain the fire.”

The situation has prompted the Peace River Regional District to declare a state of local emergency for electoral area B while the four evacuation alerts in the region remain in place (Mile 80 of the Alaska Highway, Beaton Airport Road, Siphon Creek and 2 km north of the Doig River First Nation).

The fire has also closed the Alaska Highway (Highway 97) 45 km north of Fort St. John in both directions.

The Beatton River Airport 151 Road (Mile 73 Road) is also closed.