Prince George, B.C.- Yesterday’s predicted wind event  did materialize,   fanning the flames of the fires in the  Cariboo, and there is more wind expected today.

Kevin Skrepnek, the Chief Information Officer with  the B.C. Wildfire Service,  says the  wind  did cause significant growth of the Ashcroft Reserve fire which is now estimated to be  over 42 thousand hectares in size.  It is the largest single fire in the  Cariboo.

Skrepnek says  more wind is expected today, “We  have another challenging situation ahead of us”   but  the wind today is not  expected to be as strong  as  yesterday’s event.  The fires so aggressive at times yesterday ,   some wildfire service personnel had to be pulled from the area  where they were working.

Skrepnek  says  the focus today is battling the White Lake fire, which is still  7-10 kms  outside of Williams Lake.    There are  24 helicopters working that  fire however,  the potential for heavy smoke may  hamper air operations today.

In all, there are  162 fires burning in B.C.,  16 of them new fires that were sparked yesterday.   So far,  the flames have consumed  an estimated  131 thousand hectares,  although that number could be much higher once accurate  mapping  can  take place.

It is estimated there  are   36,000  to 37 thousand people who have been forced from their homes  and the fire season has  yet to reach its peak  says Skrepnek “We need to brace ourselves to this being  our  reality for the coming weeks ahead.”