7 human-caused wildfires reported in central B.C. in 1 afternoon
CBC
Wildfire crews are battling an out-of-control wildfire in central British Columbia — one of seven human-caused blazes reported in the Cariboo region on Saturday afternoon.
The Burgess Creek fire is burning over an area of 0.5 square kilometres — about 50 kilometres south of Quesnel, a city about 415 kilometres northeast of Vancouver.
The fire is sending a thick plume of smoke into the air that is visible from Quesnel, Williams Lake and Highway 97C, according to B.C. Wildfire Service (BCWS) information officer Madison Dahl.
However, Dahl said Saturday afternoon that no homes or buildings are threatened at this time.
"There's over 25 personnel on the ground. We have heavy equipment that will be working throughout the night," Dahl told CBC News, noting there are also helicopters and planes on site.
Dry conditions and strong winds helped the fire spread Saturday afternoon and into the evening, Dahl said.
Crews were working through the night to establish lines of control while temperatures are cooler and would re-evaluate their strategy Sunday morning, she added.
The other six fires reported in the Cariboo fire centre on Saturday are all either out, under control or being held, according to BCWS.
"That's in large part thanks to the efforts of volunteer fire departments both in Quesnel and Williams Lake," said Dahl.
"It's only because of the sharing of resources and the quick response and assistance from those fire departments that we were able to properly respond to all of the wildfires."
But Dahl said it is still "a lot of wildfires to respond to" in one day, let alone so early in the spring.
Crews are also battling out-of-control wildfires started in other parts of B.C.'s Interior this weekend, signalling an early start to what wildfire and election officials have warned could be another "very challenging" wildfire season ahead.
Two wildfires were reported in the Prince George fire region on Saturday, and both of them are currently classified as out-of-control.
BCWS and Kamloops fire crews responded to an out-control grass fire near Cooney Bay, about 20 kilometres east of downtown Kamloops on the north bank of the Thompson River. It is believed to be human-caused, according to the BCWS.
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