Prince George, B.C. – The BC Wildfire Service has issued an area restriction order for areas around the Sutherland Road wildfire which will stay in place until further notice.

The 1,800-hectare wildfire is located 10 kilometres north of Fort Fraser and is 50 per cent contained.

“This restriction was put in place to protect the safety of the public and firefighters,” says fire information officer Amanda Reynolds. “While the order is in effect, no one is allowed to remain in or enter the designated restricted area unless that person is authorized to enter the area to travel to and from work or is a local resident who is travelling to and from his or her residence.”

The area restriction applies to Crown land within the geographic boundaries outlined below, starting from the junction of Highway 27 and the Barlow Forest Service Road:

• Due south for one kilometre
• Then due west for 24 kilometres
• Then southwest for five kilometres to the junction of Dog Creek Road and the Sutherland Forest Service Road
• Then north-northwest for 7.8 kilometres to the junction of the Barlow Forest Service Road and the Barlow-Rat Forest Service Road
• Then east along the Barlow Forest Service Road back to Highway 27

Road checks will be conducted by the ministry’s Natural Resource Officers and security staff 24 hours a day on Highway 27 and on the Barlow Forest Service Road.

The Regional District of Bulkley-Nechako has issued an evacuation alert for this area which remains in effect.

See a map of the restricted area below.