A wildfire believed to be human-caused is still threatening an area five kilometres east of Fraser Lake and an evacuation order has been issued but crews are making progress with fire guards to keep the fire from spreading.
Warm and windy conditions fanned the flames after the Lejac wildfire was discovered Saturday afternoon at about 3 p.m. The blaze has been knocked down to 236 hectares, down from 260 hectares Saturday night, according to the BC Wildfire Service. Thirty firefighters, aided by two helicopters, water bombers and heavy equipment are fighting the blaze, which is causing extensive smoke and is still out of control.
“There are evacuations for residents being assessed,” said BC Wildfire Service spokesperson Molly Blower. “At this time the fire is suspected to be human-caused.”
By Saturday afternoon the Lejac fire was producing plumes of smoke tht drifted towards Prince George and was visible through satellite imagry. Smoke formed a cloud in the northern horizon and cast a haze over the city and the smell of burning trees permeated the evening air. A wind shift Sunday was exected to send the smoke directly to the town of Fraser Lake Sunday evening, which might make it more difficult to contain the fire..
The fire is about 10 kilometres away from the Shovel Lake fire last summer which consumed a 900 square-kilometre tract of forest. The Lejac fire remains confined to on the south of Highway 16 close to the West Fraser sawmill and Lejac village, which are both on the north side of the highway.
No rain is expected until Tuesday and the affected area is already parched as a result of below-average precipitation in the spring and a low winter snowpack. Since April, the Prince George region has received just 11 millimetres of rain, 21 per cent of normal. Firefighting crews have guarded 70 per cent of the area under threat by the Lejac blaze but as of Sunday morning it was zero per cent contained.
"We had pretty significant winds yesterday and that was a big concern," Regional District of Bulkley-Nechako chair Gerry Thiessen told The Canadian Press on Sunday.
"We haven't had any significant snow or rain since almost Christmas so that's a real concern for us," he said. "We're hoping that we get some precipitation and we will be able to get through the summer with as few fires as possible."
Thiessen said fire season usually doesn't start until the summer months and he was surprised at how big the Lejac fire has grown..
"This is very unusual and it's concerning," he said.
Fraser Lake is 157 kilometres west of Prince George.
At 8 p.m. Saturday the regional district issued an evacuation order for the area south of Highway 16 to south of Roys Lake; West and East of Seaspunkut 4 (Lejac). https://www.rdbn.bc.ca/application/files/7515/5763/4260/20190511_Evac_Order_1_Lejac_Wildfire_with_map.pdf. About six homes are under the order.
Those affected by the order must leave the area immediately. If you need transportation assistance from the area call the Regional District of Bulkley-Nechako at 250-692-3195 or Emergency Management BC at 1-800-663-3456. Close all windows and doors, shut off all gas and electrical appliances, other than refrigerators and freezers. Close gates (latch) but do not lock. Gather your family: take a neighbour or someone who needs help. Take critical items (medicine, purse, wallet, and keys) only if they are immediately available. Take pets in pet kennels or on leash.
An evacuation alert which affects about 40 residents was also issued covering the area south of Highway 16 to south of Klez Lake and east of Drywilliam Lake.
Residents affected are being asked to locate all family members or co-workers and plan to meet outside the evacuation area in case they get separated. Gather essential items such as medications, eyeglasses and valuable papers such as insurance documents. Plan immediate care needs for dependants and gather keepsakes such as photographs. Have these items readily available for quick departure. Prepare to move any disabled persons and/or children. Arrange to transport your household members or co-workers in the event of an evacuation order. If you need transportation, assistance from the area call the pnone numbers previously mentoned. Arrange accommodation for your family if possible.
B.C. Hydro reported failure of transmission equipment due to the fire, which left 20,000 customers without power. The areas affected included Fraser Lake, Prince Rupert, Houston and Smithers.
Another human-caused wildfire started Friday east of Prince George near Giscome. By Saturday afternoon the fire had grown to two hectares but was being held in check.
