Prince George, B.C. – The BC Wildfire Service says crews are working to contain wildfires which are burning to the west and northwest of Quesnel.

The Cariboo Fire Centre reports that a fire 4 kms north of Baezaeko River, about 110 kms west of Quesnel, and a second blaze east of Toil Mountain have now merged into a single fire covering an estimated 20,000 hectares.  There are 17 firefighters and 27 pieces of heavy equipment fighting that fire.  An existing Evacuation Alert has been expanded and an Evacuation Order is in place for two properties.  Further information is available at http://cariboord.bc.ca.

The Bishop Bluff fire 130 kms west of Quesnel is about 5 kms southwest of the community of Kluskus.  That blaze, estimated at 2,525 hectares, is 80 percent contained with 31 firefighters and 4 pieces of heavy equipment on the fire lines.

The Kluskoil Lake fire on the west side of Kluskoil Lake Park, 110 kms northwest of Quesnel, has burned 2,747 hectares to date and is uncontained.  That fire is receiving helicopter bucketing and is being monitored to protect cabins in the area.

Some instability in the weather with isolated thunderstorm activity is forecast for the region tomorrow.

Meantime Highway 20, from Williams Lake to Bella Coola, has now been re-opened to traffic in both directions.  Due to smoke from wildfires motorists are advised to watch for livestock in the Alexis Creek area.