The Blackwater River Fire has increased in size, from 4,519 hectares to 4,981 hectares as of Monday Aug. 20, the BC Wildfire Service (BCWS) reports.
BCWS is reporting this fire crossed the Nazko River in two places, with one section estimated at 0.4 hectares and one at 0.2 hectares. This was due to winds shifting from the northwest to the northeast, the latest update explains, and was not due to planned fuel ignitions. Crews are currently working in the area.
“Today, if conditions permit, there are planned ignitions for this area to clean up the remaining green areas (available fuels) to help prevent further spread,” reads the BCWS website.
Smoke will be visible in the area, according to the latest update this morning.
The fire remains 75 per cent guarded and zero per cent contained.
READ MORE: Smoke advisory still in effect for Quesnel
Crews are continuing to build a guard to the Blackwater River and are also working to mop-up and reduce fuel availability along the northwest corner. They are also mopping up and are planning hand ignitions on the east flank. There remain 28 firefighters and 11 pieces of heavy equipment on this fire, along with 11 helicopters (up one from Aug. 19), which are being shared between all four fires in the Baezaeko Complex.
“This afternoon there is the potential for the fire behaviour to continue to challenge control lines (guards),” the latest BCWS update explains.
Ground and air crews are being assigned as needed.
The Cariboo Regional District’s evacuation alert and order are still in effect in the areas near this fire.
Being placed on an #Evacuation Order can be a difficult experience, and we understand that many will be reluctant to leave their homes behind. However, choosing to remain in an area under an Evacuation Order puts yourself, your family, and potentially first responders in danger. pic.twitter.com/VmuUsK52ie
— BC Wildfire Service (@BCGovFireInfo) August 19, 2018
The Narcosli Creek Fire, 31 kilometres southwest of Quesnel, has been updated to 3,415 hectares, a more accurate size than the previously estimated 3,400 hectares. It remains 90 per cent guarded and 50 per cent contained.
The BCWS is reporting the fire challenged guards yesterday in the southeast, and there were some spot fires over the guard, but ground crews and a bucketing helicopter contained the area.
Heavy equipment will continue building machine guard tight along the perimeter of this wildfire, say the new incident management team fire information officers, Ellie Dupont and Rosalie MacAuley.
Crews will be establishing hose lay around the southwest corner in preparation of planned ignitions when conditions allow. Crews will also patrol and mop up to 50 feet of perimeter line on the north and west flanks.
“This afternoon there is potential for the fire behaviour to continue to challenge control lines (guards),” says the BCWS website, but crews will be assigned as needed. There are now 74 firefighters on site, up from 49 yesterday, along with 22 pieces of heavy equipment and the shared 11 helicopters.
The size of the North Baezaeko Fire, around 85 kilometres west of Quesnel, has been updated to 4,650 hectares today, up from 4,000 yesterday. It remains zero per cent contained.
Crews continue to build guard along the northeast flank. They will also be mopping-up the excursions in the southwest. If conditions permit, crews will continue with hand ignitions to the guard on the south flank. This is when the crews are burning small green areas of available fuels to reinforce the guard. There remain 50 firefighters and 13 pieces of equipment on this fire.
And the Shag Creek fire, located in the northwestern corner of the Cariboo Regional District, is now listed at 9,312 hectares, up from 9,300 yesterday. It remains zero per cent contained and the local incident management team says it is monitoring this fire by air, with ground crews still unable to action the fire.
Evacuation alerts and orders are still in effect for all four Wildfires of Note in the North Cariboo.
Other fires in Quesnel Fire Zone
There are currently 11 active wildfires burning in the Quesnel Fire Zone in total. There is one fire Being Held, two fires Under Control and eight fires in Out of Control status.
There are two fires in the area of North Baezaeko, south of Kluskoil Lake Park. One smaller fire, estimated at 370 hectares, has not merged with the North Baezaeko Wildfire of Note; however, it is being treated as one fire.
The Yuzkli Lake fire is south of Big Valley Creek and remains estimated at 32.5 hectares. There are no communities or structures threatened at this time.
The fire west of Mustang Lakes is still estimated at 123.5 hectares. Ground personnel attended this fire and have developed a plan of action for this fire, although no updates have been given since.
The Pantage Creek fire was discovered Sunday and is estimated at 2.5 hectares. Two sides of this fire were actioned by tankers yesterday. Crews and heavy equipment will be on site today, says the BCWS.
Northern fires pushing into CRD region
Just north of the Cariboo Regional District’s border, the Chutanli Lake Fire, 11 kilometres northeast of Tatelkuz Lake, is now 13,371 hectares (up from 12,250 on Saturday Aug. 18). The fire is located in the Prince George Fire Centre; however, some alerts and orders affect properties in the CRD and the eastern flank of the fire has extended into the CRD. The fire is 23 kilometres west of Titetown and one to two kilometres west of Batnuni.
Crews are working to bring the fire to the guards where possible and work continues along the south perimeter, east on Blue 2500 Road. Firefighters are keeping residents informed as the fire progresses eastward. Structural protection has been set up; however, no activation triggers have been reach at this point in time, says the BCWS website.
“We continue to monitor fire to the east for growth and progression and to monitor and evaluate values risk,” says fire information officer Matt Reeves.
The Kluskus Forest Service Road remains closed from the 70 kilometre to the 113 kilometre. The Martin Road and the Blue Road have also been closed due to fire activity. Work has continued to contain the fire on the western side and guard construction continues around the Brewster Lakes area to 94 kilometres.
READ MORE: Update on wildfires in the Cariboo, Aug. 20
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