UPDATE: Purvis Lake wildfire is being held

(UPDATE: Aug. 28 @ 11:15 a.m.) - The Purvis Lake wildfire, that was originally discovered on July 30, is now 80% contained and is being held.

The Driftwood FSR is now open to light vehicles. Larger and heavier vehicles will need to be granted authorisation by BC Wildfire before entering. Drivers should be aware that firefighters remain on scene.

Crews will continue to work on containing the eastern sides of the fire into the Techento Lake. Ground personnel will also work on mopping up active fire to the northeast and south-east.

Machinery will continue to tie the fire into the lake to create a solid eastern containment line.

Today, there are 122 firefighters and 23 pieces of heavy equipment on scene.

(UPDATE: Aug. 26 @ 5:50 p.m.) - The Driftwood FSR has been reopened for light vehicles, authorisation for heavy vehicles may be granted by BC Wildfire Service.

Drivers should be aware that firefighters remain on scene and their safety is a top priority.

Ground crews are continuing to contain spotting from backing fire on the southwest corner and are burning out fuels between the guards on the east side. Further containment on the north and south flanks will be addressed and determined if it is needed.

Today, there are 105 firefighters and 27 pieces of heavy equipment on scene.

(UPDATE: Aug. 25 @ 5:20 p.m.) - The Purvis Lake wildfire is still estimated to be 2,290 hectares.

Crews are continuing to work on mopping up previous burn lines including one on the southeast portion of the east head from Driftwood down to the northeast.

There are 105 firefighters and 27 pieces of heavy equipment on scene.

(UPDATE: Aug. 23 @ 1:50 p.m.) - The Purvis Lake wildfire has seen no changes since yesterday.

The Driftwood FSR continues to remain closed from Leo Road to the 14.5 km mark.

Today, crews are containing spotting from backing fire on the southwest corner. On the east side, personnel will be burning fuels between the guards and the fire.

There are 113 firefighters and 25 pieces of heavy equipment on scene.

(UPDATE: Aug. 22 @ 12:45 p.m.) - The Purvis Lake wildfire has had some fire activity in the northeast, however, it remains within containment lines. Poor visibility has been affecting the use of any aircrafts this morning.

Cooler temperatures and slightly favourable winds will reduce the risk of erratic fire behaviour, however, increased winds are predicted for this evening.

Today, there are 137 firefights and 25 pieces of heavy equipment on scene.

An Evacuation Order remains in effect, more information can be found here.

(UPDATE: Aug. 21 @ 6:15 p.m.) - BCWS has pulled just under 20 firefighters from the Purvis Lake wildfire.

Recorded at 2,290 hectares, the fire continues to be actioned but by a 125-firefighter force with 25 units of heavy equipment.

An Evacuation Order remains in effect with a Partial Closure Order for Nation Lakes Park including Indata, Limestone, Tchentlo and Progress Point campsites.

(UPDATE: Aug. 20 @ 10:05 p.m.) - BCWS reports that the Purvis Lake fire remains out of control but has not "progressed far to the north or the northeast due to higher humidity."

There are 144 firefighters and 25 units of heavy equipment enlisted to battle the ongoing fire.

No new information is available at this time.

(UPDATE: Aug. 19 @ 8:40 p.m.) - Consecutive days of higher overnight humidity have offered a helping hand to the 120 firefighters working to subdue the fire.

BCWS is still recording the fire as 2,290 hectares and is considered out of control.

According to BCWS, the Driftwood FSR has been closed for four days due to fire activity and will remain closed until further notice.

Firefighting efforts continue to focus on the eastern perimeter of the fire.

An Evacuation Order for areas affected as shown below remains in effect, although, no structures are immediately threatened at this time. Structural protection specialists have been set up on properties to the northeast of the fire as a precautionary measure.

(UPDATE: Aug. 18 @ 11:10 a.m.) - According to BC Wildfire Service, fire behaviour has settled thanks to higher overnight humidity and a change of fuel composition.

The fire continues to be estimated at 2,290 hectares.

Crews will continue to contain this fire with a focus on the eastern, northeastern and southeastern perimeters.

Today there are 140 firefighters and 25 pieces of heavy equipment on scene.

(UPDATE: Aug. 17 @ 7:25 p.m.) - Another 28 firefighters were enlisted to battle the Purvis Lake wildfire located east of Takla Lake.

There are now 113 firefighters and 24 units of heavy equipment on-site battling the approximately 2,290-hectare blaze.

Crews are working to stop the fires spread further east and along the Driftwood FSR with containment on the south east corner of the fire around the Driftwood FSR being an objective.

Personnel are also working to contain spotting produced from a backing fire in the southwest corner.

The Evacuation Order issued on Aug. 5 and the Declaration of State of Local Emergency issued on Aug. 12 by the Regional District of Bulkley-Nechako remain in effect.

(UPDATE: August 17 @ 10:25 a.m.) - The Purvis Lake wildfire is now estimated to be 2,290 hectares.

The fire remains out of control, however, it is considered to be 15% contained. Leo Road to the 14.5 km mark has been closed until further notice.

Today there are 85 firefighters and 21 pieces of heavy equipment on scene.

Crews plan on working to stop the fire spread to the north and south along Driftwood. They will also continue establishing containment on the southeast corner of the fire around the Dirftwood FSR.

Guard construction will resume along the northern flank of the fire, utilizing heavy equipment to further contingency lines.

(UPDATE: August 15 @ 11 a.m.) - The Purvis Lake wildfire continues to be estimated at 1,457 hectares.

The fire behaviour has been erratic and threatening to impact the Driftwood FSR.

No structures are being threatened at this time, however, structural protection has been set up on properties to the northeast of the fire as a precaution.

Today, there are 82 firefighters and 21 pieces of heavy equipment on scene.

(UPDATE: August 13 @ 8:05 p.m.) - BCWS has not reported any change in size for the Purvis Lake wildfire, but has documented an increase in personnel on site.

The 1,457-hectare wildfire was actioned by 82 firefighters, 21 units of heavy equipment and 15 helicopters — gathering over 40 new personnel to the fire.

The fire remains out of control and is 15% contained.

(UPDATE: August 11 @12:15 p.m.) - Purvis Lake wildfire remains at 1,457 hectares.

The fire is still considered out of control and 15% contained.

The Driftwood FSR remains closed with limited access to residents and industry personnel.

There are 39 firefighters and 21 pieces of heavy equipment on scene today with 15 helicopters being rotated through the fire zone as needed.

(UPDATE: August 10 @ 9:45 p.m.) - The Purvis Lake wildfire is measured at an estimated 1,457.5 hectares, having experienced some growth overnight and this morning.

An Evacuation Order remains in effect, although, structures are not currently threatened.

The Driftwood FSR, which the BCWS recorded earlier as threatened, remains closed with limited access to residents and industry personnel.

BCWS documented that 39 firefighters and 24 units of heavy equipment were on site Friday with 15 helicopters being rotated through the fire zone as needed.

(UPDATE: August 10 @ 10:15 a.m.) - The Purvis Lake wildfire continues to stay around 1,400 hectares.

According to BC Wildfire Service, the fire was exhibiting aggressive behaviour and threatening the Driftwood FSR yesterday.

Structural protection has been set up on properties to the northeast of the fire as a precaution, however, they are not threatened at this time.

The fire is still considered to be 15% contained.

Today, there are 36 firefighters, five helicopters and 26 pieces of heavy equipment on scene.

Crews will continue to build machine guard on the south and north flanks to prevent the fire from wrapping around Tchentlo Lake. The goal is to build on the north flank of the fire to tie it into the Purvis Lake road.

(UPDATE: August 8 @ 10 p.m.) - The Purvis Lake wildfire has shown no recorded growth throughout Wednesday.

BCWS has begun to contain the blaze, which has been documented as 15% contained.

BCWS is continually assessing the road closure.

(Original Story)

Located 20 kilometres east of Takla Lake, the Purvis Lake wildfire is exhibiting aggressive behaviour and is causing difficulty in the Prince George Fire Centre.

The fire has grown to approximately 1,600 hectares in comparison to Sunday's records of an estimated 1,450 hectares of area being affected.

The Purvis Lake #BCwildfire, 20km east of Takla Lake in the Prince George Fire, is ~1,450 hectares in size and was exhibiting aggressive fire behaviour today. A closure on Driftwood FSR is effective immediately. #EvacuationOrder in place by RD of Bulkley-Nechako. Details below. pic.twitter.com/UCkHeMCPjw

— BC Wildfire Service (@BCGovFireInfo) August 6, 2018

The Driftwood FSR has been closed as a result of the encroaching wildfire threatening the road from south of Nation Lakes Park to the intersection of Leo Creek FSR. BCWS has not determined a time of opening but says "the road closure may be in effect for several days."

Although the fire is an interface fire with the potential to damage structures, there are no buildings immediately threatened by this fire at this time, reports BCWS.

However, the Purvis Lake wildfire has forced a declaration of State of Local Emergency and an Evacuation Order in nearby areas.

The Evacuation Order was issued Aug. 5 at 7 p.m. and is in effect for the properties within the area of Purvis Lake to Tchentlo Lake and the Tchentlo FSR, south of Nation Lakes Park, to the intersection of the Leo Creek FSR and the Driftwood FSR. The Evacuation Order does not include the Driftwood FSR as shown below.

The State of Local Emergency was implemented on Aug. 5 at 7 p.m. in the Fort St. James Rural area (Electoral Areas "C") due to the wildfire threat to people and property in the area.

The area encompassed by the State of Emergency includes Purvis Lake to Tchentlo Lake and the Tchentlo FSR, south of Nation Lakes Park, to the intersection of the Leo Creek FSR and Driftwood FSR — but does not include the Driftwood FSR.

The local State of Emergency will remain in place for seven days or until cancelled by order of the Regional District of Bulkley-Nechako (RDOBN) or the Solicitor General.

PrinceGeorgeNow will update this article as the wildfire develops.