Achi news desk-
Wildfire crews are battling an out-of-control wildfire in central British Columbia – one of seven human-caused fires reported in the Cariboo region Saturday afternoon.
The Burgess Creek fire is burning over an area of 0.5 square kilometers – about 50 kilometers south of Quesnel, a city about 415 kilometers northeast of Vancouver.
The fire is sending a thick plume of smoke into the sky that is visible from Quesnel, Williams Lake and Highway 97C, according to BC Wildfire Service (BCWS) information officer Madison Dahl.
However, Dahl said on Saturday afternoon that no homes or buildings are currently threatened.
“There are over 25 personnel on the ground. We have heavy equipment that will work throughout the night,” Dahl told CBC News, noting that helicopters and planes were also on site.
Dry conditions and strong winds helped the fire spread Saturday afternoon and evening, Dahl said.
Crews were working through the night to establish lines of control while temperatures cooled and would re-evaluate their strategy Sunday morning, he added.
The other six fires reported at the Cariboo fire center Saturday are all either out, under control or sustained, according to BCWS.
“That’s largely thanks to the efforts of the volunteer fire departments in Quesnel and Williams Lake,” said Dahl.
“It was only because of the sharing of resources and quick response and assistance from those fire departments that we were able to respond properly to all of the wildfires.”
But Dahl said it’s still “a lot of wildfires to respond to” in one day, let alone so early in the spring.
Other fires were reported in Interior
Crews are also battling out-of-control wildfires that started in other parts of BC’s Interior this weekend, marking an early start to what fire and election officials have warned could be a wildfire season. another “very challenging” ahead.
Two wildfires were reported in the Prince George fire region on Saturday, both of which are currently classified as out of control.
BCWS and Kamloops fire crews responded to a controlled grass fire near Cooney Bay, about 20 kilometers east of downtown Kamloops on the north bank of the Thompson River. It is believed to have been caused by man, according to the BCWS.
The fire was brought under control Saturday night and crews will remain on the scene overnight, Kamloops Fire Chief Ken Uzeloc said in a social media post just before 10 pm PT.
Great job done today by the KFR crews @KamFire and our partners @BCGovFireInfo a @CNRailway to have the Cooney Bay fire included. KFR crews remain at the scene through the night. #Teamwork Thanks to everyone! pic.twitter.com/l3Bkq7BSwu
About 15 kilometers north of Lytton, the out-of-control Skoonka Creek wildfire is burning over an area of 0.3 square kilometres. BCWS is accepting a modified response because there is no immediate danger to life or property, according to its website.
In the southeast corner of the state, a small fire was also discovered Saturday and is burning out of control about 20 kilometers north of Grand Forks, according to the BCWS website. It is also suspected that it was caused by a man, according to the service.
CBC News has contacted the BCWS for more information about the fires.
Dahl encouraged people out enjoying nature to be careful and to report smoke and other signs of fire to BCWS immediately.
“Every time we have to respond to human-caused wildfires, especially after a lightning bust, that depletes the resources we have to respond to those natural fires,” he said of the Caribou wildfires. . “These are all preventable fires.”
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