Map showing current  wildfires in Interior – courtesy BC Wildfire  Service

Prince George, B.C. – The situation in Williams Lake remains  as an evacuation alert,  and all eyes are on the weather. “The big challenge today is going to be the wind event that is going to be upon  us shortly” says  Kevin Skrepnek, Chief Information Officer  with the BC Wildfire Service.

The cold front is expected to hit this afternoon and could  extend  into the evening and overnight bringing with it winds that  could gust  up to 70 kms per hour in some areas.  “Given these winds we are expecting   the very real possibility of very extreme and violently aggressive fire behaviour” says  Skrepnek  .

The timing of the wind event  is ” still very much in the air”  says Skrepnek  “It is going to happen, we just have to  keep a close eye on how it unfolds.”

The Canadian  Armed Forces  assets, which  include helicopters and  fixed wing aircraft,   have been put to use.  As was planned, the  aircraft  used yesterday to move RCMP members to assist in the evacuation of  people from the Loon Lake area.    The aircraft  will also be used to bring  supplies to  2 remote  First Nations Communities  which are not  threatened by flames,  but  access to the  sites  has been  spotty because of  fires  along Highway 20.

There are 2161 fires burning across the province  with 14 new fires  started yesterday

Here  is the latest information on  the fires:

Cariboo Fire District:

• Green Mountain  520 hectares,  80% contained
• Alexandria    120 hectares,   this fire is being “held”
• Wildwood   2,500 hectares,  40% contained
• 150 Mile   2,600 hectares   50% contained
• Hanceville    40,000 hectares
• Gustafsen   5,000 hectares,  20% contained

Prince George Fire Centre:

• Big Bend Creek:   2,062     0% contained
• Grizzly Lake   100% contained this wildfire will no longer be considered  a “wildfire of note”
• Sutherland Road:  1,590   80% contained