Crews are battling 20 fires throughout the Prince George fire region, with more popping up every day.
Fire Information Officer Jill Kelsh says 10 fires broke out Tuesday while crews responded to three more Wednesday, though none are yet posing a threat.
However, the Mount McAllister fire 56 kilometers west of Chetwynd has grown to over 20,000 hectares in size.
1,100 people have been evacuated from their homes in the Hudson’s hope district as a fire there due to that fire.
The blaze west of Williston Lake (pictured) is over 30,000 hectares and growing.
Kelsh expects the smoke advisory to continue, with smoke being brought in throughout the entire region.
“I wouldn’t be surprised,” Kelsh says. “We do have a number of these large fires, we’re expecting smoke to be brought in to a lot of the surrounding communities, including the Peace Region, Vanderhoof, and even the Mackenzie region.”
As for the high concentration of ash in the air Tuesday which people found stuck to their vehicles, Kelsh says that comes from the Euchiniko Lake fire, south west of Vanderhoof, combined with another large fire to the north west.
Open back yard burning is banned in the region and though camp fires are still permitted, Kelsh says that may change over the next two days if weather conditions don’t improve.
(Photo credit: Vienna Pierre)
