Wildfires prompt area restriction order for Point Creek NW of Mackenzie

An out-of-control wildfire about 90 kilometres northwest of Mackenzie has forced the BC Wildfire Service to issue an area restriction order.

The Point Creek fire, believed to have been caused by a lightning strike on July 11, has grown to 63.40 hectares in an area south of the eastern arm of Williston Lake where it connects to Clearwater Creek.

The order, which will remain in effect until Sept. 30, prohibits people from being in the area unless they have written permission from government authorities unless the person is:

• Travelling to or from his or her residence;
• Using a highway as defined in the Highway Act;
• Travelling through or entering the area as a person acting in an official capacity; or
• Travelling through or entering the area for an approved purpose of supporting wildfire suppression activities.

Violators of the order are subject to a fine of $,150.

There are five other small wildfires in the area burning out of control with no fire suppression efforts being conducted.

Two large fires continue to burn in sparsely-populated areas in the Williston Lake area.

The Mount Porter fire, about 80 km northwest of Mackenzie, has grown to 6,345 ha and that prompted an evacuation order for includes Wolverine Lakes, Manson Lakes and the Omineca Mining Access Road, and the area northwest of Germansen Landing and southeast of Manson Creek.

Evacuees are being asked to register in Prince George at the Super 8 Hotel, 1151 Commercial Cres., (call Emergency Support Services at 250-562-4131) or to Fort St. James at Fort St. James Secondary School, 450 Douglas St. (call 1-250-617-9683).

Sixteen firefighters, three helicopters and five pieces of heavy equipment are being used to fight the fire.

The Klawi Lake fire, about 20 km south of the Mount Porter fire, is listed on the BC Wildfire Service interactive website at 6,231 ha. No personnel of equipment are fighting that blaze.

The Cutoff Creek fire southwest of Vanderhoof remains the largest wildfire in the Prince George area and it now covers 23,310 ha of forest. For perspective, one hectare is about the size of the infield area of the 400-metre running track at Masich Place Stadium.

An evacuation order remains in effect covering the area south of the intersection of Kenny Dam Road and Brophy Road, southwest to Knewstubb Lake, and southeast to the 600 FSR, including Saik'uz IR Tatuk Lake 7, Tatuk, and Finger FSR and also the area west of the Nechako River including the Kenney Dam Road West to the Corkscrew RSF and Sinkut Road. The order does not include Kenney Dam Road where it runs adjacent to the Nechako River.

The Grizzly Lake fire, listed at 4,600 ha, is the closest major fire to Prince George, about 40 km southwest of the city. An evacuation order is in effect, which applies to the area southeast of the 900 and 800 Road including Naltesby Lake and Little Bobtail Lake, southeast of the Bobtail Connector and Bobtail FSR to the 900 and 800 Road and into the Cariboo district in the Tietown and Nazko North areas.

Twelve firefighters, five helicopters and 17 pieces of heavy equipment are on the scene at Grizzly Lake.

The Tentfire Creek fire southwest of Tumbler Ridge, continues to burn out of control over 1,700 ha. Nine firefighters, one helicopter and eight pieces of heavy equipment are being used to attack that fire.

The Chief Louie Lake fire covers 18,338 ha of forested land and is located southwest of Burns Lake, about 20 km south of Ootsa Lake. The Purdy Lake fire , about 90 km south of Vanderhoof, covers 7,600 ha. Twelve firefighters, one helicopter and 16 pieces of heavy equipment are involved in suppression efforts.

West of Fort St. James, about 50 km from the town, the Camsell Lake fire is listed at 310 ha.