Prince George, B.C.- The forest fire at the junction of the Liard and Smith rivers, has forced some people from their homes.

 

Due to strong, stormy weather on the Smith River Fire, the communities of Coal River, Fireside, and Muddy River Indian Reserve #1 were evacuated and the Alaska Highway was closed last night.

 

Some precipitation has reduced fire behaviour and the highway has been re-opened and will remain open pending fire activity; as well the evacuations order has been lifted. No structures have been lost. The fire size remains an estimated 20,537 hectares, and top priorities today are safety and structure protection.

The fire danger rating is currently high throughout most of the Prince George Fire Centre and the current warm and dry weather is forecast to continue through the weekend.

 

Meantime, the Tyaughton Lake fire is now 50% contained. The northwest and southwest flanks of the fire remain quiet as crews continue to cool hot spots and mop up the fire 30 to 40 metres inside of fire guards. The evacuation order remains in effect for Marshall Lake, Liza Lake, Carol Lake, Mud Creek, Tyaughton Lake and Gun Creek Road.

 

(at right, the Tyaughton Lake fire, photo courtesy B.C. Forests and Range)
The evacuation alert remains in place for Gun Lake, Gold Bridge and Bralorne. For more information on evacuation orders and alerts, please contact the Squamish Lillooet Regional District at 1-866-417-4132. guards.

 

There are more than 250 people (including support staff) working on this fire, including 230 fire fighters, 15 helicopters and 50 pieces of heavy equipment. Structural protection units have also been brought in to help protect homes in the immediate vicinity of the wildfire.

The fire size is now estimated at 8000 hectares due, in part, to more accurate GPS mapping using satellite technology, and also due to the slow, steady growth of the fire.

Fire fighters continued to make good progress constructing contingency fire guards along the east flank of the Tyaughton Lake fire Wednesday. Fire guards have been constructed from Marshall Lake to the southeast corner of the fire. There are road closures in the immediate vicinity of the wildfire including Hwy 40 due to the risk of falling rocks and debris, for more information please contact the Ministry of Transportation and Infractures by calling 1-800-550-4997 or visiting www.drivebc.ca.

 

The Bellevue Creek fire, 16 km south of Kelowna is now 100% contained. That fire was held to 7 hectares.