While flames continue to roll in Fort McMurray, the B.C. Wildfire Service says they also have their hands full with wildfires in northeastern B.C.
According to B.C. Wildfire Service Chief Fire Information Officer Kevin Skrepnek, no B.C. firefighters will be going to Alberta as teams are fully engaged with wildfires in the Prince George Fire Centre.
“There was a request that was made nationally yesterday morning from Alberta looking for some firefighting crew assistance. Given the situation here in B.C. we were not able to provide any resources at that time,” said Skrepnek. “We are sending some resources their way including some pumps and hoses, but just given the current situation, we weren’t able to deploy any personnel.”
Provinces requesting help go through a national system that determines where the aid would come from. According to Skrepnek, firefighters from eastern Canada will be making their way to Fort McMurray this week to assist with the devastating fire.
Evacuation orders are also in place in northern B.C. for fires in the Beaton Airport Road and Siphon Creek.
Currently, the fire on Beaton Airport Road, about 50 kilometres from Fort St.John, is estimated around 7,035 hectares. The fire in Siphon Creek is estimated to be around 9,000 ha.
Aerial footage of Siphon Creek #BCwildfire from May 3. For latest updates: https://t.co/dKUCKyP8J2 pic.twitter.com/nXqdCvhW4s
— BC Wildfire Service (@BCGovFireInfo) May 4, 2016
“That particular fire is burning close to the Alberta border,” said Skrepnek. “We’ve agreed that we’re going to continue to fight those fires on both sides of the border so that they can focus their resources on the situation at Fort McMurray.”
There are currently 84 fires burning across the province with 56 of those in the Prince George Fire Centre. Since the April 1, there have been 202 wildfires in the province, and over 23,000 ha. burned which is nearly 20 times the average at this time of year, said Skrepnek.
“It’s definitely been an incredibly busy start to the season,” said Skrepnek. “Unfortunately there is not a lot of relief in the forecast right now. We are expecting some slightly cooler weather conditions across the province but not a whole lot of rain expected with that.”
Skrepnek says the B.C. Wildfire Service will continue to monitor the situation in Fort McMurray.
In addition to Beaton Airport Road and Siphon Creek, there are wildfires current at Carter Road, Clearview, Doig River, Hudsons Hope and Voight Creek.
For up to the date wildfire information please visit bcwildfire.ca
