Smoke originating from large wildfires south of Vanderhoof and west of Quesnel has been visible in the Nadina Fire Zone and in areas around Burns Lake today.
This smoke is expected to linger in the area for the next few days.
There are currently no active wildfires in the Northwest Fire Centre.
The wildfire that is closest to the Nadina Fire Zone is burning east of Lucas Lake in the Prince George Fire Centre, in a remote area about 92 km southeast of Burns Lake. This wildfire has been burning since July 8, and as of the afternoon of Aug. 2, this fire had burned about 4600 hectares. No communities or structures are currently threatened by this fire.
The B.C. Wildfire Service performed planned ignition operations on July 31 at this wildfire in order to remove unburnt fuel – trees, brush, slash – from near the fire perimeter.
“The purpose of planned ignition operations is always to remove the majority of available fuels so that the fire has nothing left to burn; they also enhance the overall safety, effectiveness, and efficiency of fire management efforts,” explained Olivia Pojar, fire information officer for the Northwest Fire Centre.
Detecting new wildfires in smoky conditions can be challenging. Anyone who sees open flames or a distinct column of smoke should call *5555 on a cellphone or 1-800-663-5555 toll-free as soon as possible and provide as much detail as possible.
Pojar added that smoke concentrations can vary widely depending on wind activity, fire behaviour and changes in temperature.
“Hot and dry conditions are in the weather forecast for this week and could lead to an increase in fire activity and the amount of smoke that’s visible,” she said.
The B.C. Wildfire Service reminds the public that all types of open burning, including campfires, are prohibited throughout the Northwest Fire Centre.
