Two massive wildfires burning in northeastern B.C., including a large blaze that has crossed into Alberta, grew overnight Friday, as gusts of wind hampered firefighting efforts.
Fire information officer Noelle Kekula said Saturday that the Siphon Creek fire, burning several kilometres into Alberta, grew to an estimated 24,000 hectares late Friday, up from 17,000 hectares earlier in the day. However, she said firefighters believe it has grown even bigger overnight as wind fanned the flames and the fire spread on both sides of the provincial border.
“It definitely grew overnight,” she said. “We won’t have an updated estimate until tonight … we know it has grown on both sides.”
Kekula said the weather continued Saturday to be hot, dry and windy, with no sign of rain until Sunday.
She said no structures have been lost in the blaze, which broke out April 18 about 60 kilometres northeast of Fort St. John. The area remains under an evacuation alert and order. Residents of 11 homes in B.C. have been told they must leave, while the residents of 88 homes are under evacuation alert.
Residents in Clear Hill County, Alta., remained under evacuation alert.
Forests Minister Steve Thomson said Friday that 77 B.C. firefighters, nine helicopters and heavy equipment are fighting flames on both sides of the boundary in an effort to help their Alberta counterparts, who are busy dealing with the devastating fire in Fort McMurray.
“The situation in Fort McMurray and in the B.C. Peace continues to worsen,” he added.
Meanwhile, another raging wildfire northwest of Fort St. John also spread overnight. The B.C. Wildfire Service says the Beatton Airport Road fire is now 45 kilometres from the city of Fort. St. John.
Fire officials said the blaze saw significant growth to the north late Friday. The latest estimate is that the fire is about 12,000 hectares, but crews were still assessing the situation Saturday morning.
Residents of 1,726 homes have been placed on evacuation alert, while residents of 216 homes have been ordered to leave because of the Beatton Airport Road fire.
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Rain is expected Sunday, say officials, but it will likely bring gusting winds that may fan flames.
“When a lot of these fires first started in the Peace a few weeks ago, we were seeing record-breaking temperatures, unusually and unseasonably dry conditions, and then it turned into a perfect storm when we had a pretty significant wind event come through,” said Kevin Skrepnek, a fire information officer.
The conditions have created fast-moving, stubborn fires that are tough to contain, he added.
“I think, looking across the border to Alberta, they’re seeing a similar weather pattern there, and certainly the activity in Fort McMurray on Tuesday seems to be largely wind-driven as well.”
Skrepnek said there are 81 fires burning across the province, and 213 have been sparked since April 1, burning more than 300 square kilometres.
With files from The Canadian Press
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