The China Nose wildfire burning near Houston has prompted the closure of Highway 16 West and the evacuation of approximately 245 people.
Regional District of Bulkley-Nechako chairperson Bill Blair said at public meeting held by the district on Thursday night, fire officials were concerned about a cold front expected to move into the region Friday evening, with strong winds blowing in the direction of the evacuated homes. The evacuation order went into effect at 6 a.m. on Friday.
"There is a cold front moving into the area in the next 12 hours. They are predicting wind gusts of up to 40 km/h... [and] sustained winds of up to 20 km/h," Blair said. "Unfortunately the direction of that wind is going to be southwest or south-southwest."
There are approximately 60 dwellings in the evacuation area, which stretches along Highway 16, he said.
"There isn't a direct line of timber [from the fire to the homes in the area], but there is a concern about spot fires," Blair said.
Authorities are being proactive in ordering the evacuation, he said Friday morning, rather than wait and potentially have to order a hasty evacuation on Friday night.
Additional evacuation alerts have been ordered on the northwest and southeast sides of the evacuation zone, including areas on the outskirts of Houston and Burns Lake, and effecting the small communities of Topley and Decker Lake. In addition, parts of the West'suwet'en First Nation reserve in the area are under evacuation alert.
"The evacuation alert has been expanded substantially," Blair said. "It's a fair amount [of people], because it includes the hamlet of Topley."
Authorities closed Highway 16 at around 9:45 a.m. on Friday. The closure is in effect from four kilometres east of Topley to 18 kilometres west of Burns Lake until further notice, according to information posted by Drive B.C.
A 150 km detour on gravel roads is available via the Colleymount and Morice roads.
According to information released by the B.C. Wildfire Management Branch Friday morning, the China Nose fire has grown to an estimated 4,000 hectares in size.
As of Friday morning the fire remained uncontained. However, authorities reported that "good progress was made on this fire" on Thursday during the day and overnight.
"Heavy equipment worked overnight to connect some local roads and terrain features to create containment lines on sections of the north, west and east sides of the fire," the branch reported in a press release. "Crews on the ground worked to strengthen these guards. A structural protection unit has been assigned to this fire and the primary objective at this time is public safety and the ongoing identification and protection of [property] values in the area."
Currently 71 firefighters, 11 helicopters and 14 pieces of heavy equipment are assigned to fighting the fire with, "potential air tanker support, if conditions allow."
Additional personnel are being allocated to the fire, the press release stated.
A spokesperson for the Northwest Fire Centre could not be reached for comment as of press time.
