UPDATE (Aug. 13 at 2:25 p.m.): The Young Lake fire, located one mile east of Young Lake, has increased to 245 hectares, according to the BC Wildfire Service map.
Original story (Aug. 13 at 12:37 p.m.): There are 24 active fires burning within the 100 Mile Fire Zone as of Monday, Aug. 13.
Five of these fires are being held, six are under control and 13 are considered out-of-control.
BC Wildfire Service said in a release that five fires were called out and one new fire was discovered in the 100 Mile House area yesterday.
The new fire, located near Hendrix Ridge, is estimated at 110 hectares.
The Young Lake fire is estimated at 135 hectares.
The fire southwest of Clearwater Lake and north of Mahood Lake is estimated at 80 hectares.
The fire north of Lang Lake is estimated at 345 hectares.
The fire 3 km east of McNeil Lake is estimated at 15 hectares.
The fire 16 km north of Canim Lake is estimated at 117 hectares.
BC Wildfire Service said it is closely monitoring all of the above fires.
Four wildfires-of-note continue to burn in the 100 Mile House Fire Zone.
The Lang Lake fire, east of the north end of Lang Lake, is estimated at 440 hectares. Five firefighters and four pieces of heavy equipment are working to contain the perimeter of the fire, focusing on its southern flank. The fire is 70 per cent contained.
Properties in the Lang Lake and Murphy Lake area remain under an evacuation order and an evacuation alert by the Cariboo Regional District.
RELATED: Evacuation orders issued for Tatelkuz Lake and Lang Lake and Murphy Lake area
The Houseman Road fire, located south-west of Buffalo Lake and 13 km east of 100 Mile House, is estimated at 19.5 hectares. This fire has been 100 per cent contained and is considered being held. Twenty-one personnel are on site, mopping up hot spots inside the perimeter.
The evacuation order previously placed on properties in the Houseman Road area has been downgraded to an evacuation alert.
RELATED: Houseman Road evacuation order downgraded to alert
The Twin Creek fire, located south-east of 70 Mile House, is estimated at 585 hectares. The fire received rain yesterday and the 44 firefighters, one helicopter and five pieces of heavy equipment on site continue working at establishing hose lines around the perimeter and extinguishing hot spots. The fire is 90 per cent contained and is considered being held.
The fire pushed east towards the natural guard created by the Elephant Hill fire in 2017.
The evacuation order previously placed on properties near the Bonaparte Plateau, including Hutchinson Road, has been downgraded to an evacuation alert.
RELATED: TNRD downgraded evacuation order for the area east of 70 Mile House to an alert
The Wild Goose Lake fire, west of Meadow Lake and west of the Clinton community, is estimated at 7,228 hectares. Crews have been working to establish containment lines and hose lines and assessing and falling danger trees. Crews are also patrolling the eastern flank and securing the southern flank. This fire is 40 per cent contained and 50 per cent guarded.
Properties surrounding the Wild Goose Lakes have been placed on evacuation alert and order by the Thompson Nicola Regional District and the Cariboo Regional District.
RELATED: Wild Goose Lake fire evacuation order. Alerts have been expanded
The Cariboo Fire Centre’s fire danger rating is currently ‘high’ through the western portion, with pockets of ‘extreme’ and is ‘low’ for the majority of the eastern portion. There are also pockets of ‘moderate’ ratings along the Fraser River.
Extensive smoke is being reported throughout the Cariboo Fire Centre this morning and BC Wildfire Service said it anticipates mainly sunny weather, with highs in the mid-to-upper 20s and winds in variable directions.
beth.audet@100milefreepress.net
