Five Forest Fires Flare Up

By Michelle Cyr-Whiting

Horsey Creek Fire                  photo courtesy of the BC Forest Service

The Horsey Creek fire is burning approximately 50-kilometres southeast of McBride, with smoke visible to travellers along Highway 16 East.

Prince George Fire Information Officer, Barb Durau, says a total of five fires were sparked between yesterday afternoon and today - with Horsey Creek being the largest.

Durau says members of the Fire Hawks Unit Crew from Prince George and a helicopter are actioning the blaze.  The smoke has cleared somewhat today and the fire’s original size estimate of 60-hectares has been upgraded to 108-hectares.

Of the remaining four fires, Durau says two others have crews working them, while one is out and the other is in patrol status - meaning it’s believed to be extinguished, but is being monitored.

She says two of the blazes are known to have been sparked by lightning, with the causes of the three others under investigation.

"The concern going into the weekend, is the risk of dry lightning," says Durau, "And very little precipitation is forecast through the long range forecast."

No campfire ban has been issued heading into the weekend, but the Fire Information Officer says, "So we’re asking the public to be very careful with fires.  If they’re going to have a campfire this weekend, make sure it is completely extinguished before they leave the area, make sure that conditions are appropriate to light a campfire, make sure they have fire suppression tools with them, make sure to douse the fire thoroughly with water before they leave and make sure the embers are cold to the touch before they leave."

The Fire Hazard Rating is moderate to high throughout most of the Prince George Fire Centre with some areas in extreme - areas in the Robson Valley, in the Tumbler Ridge area and around Dawson Creek and Hudson’s Hope.

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