Out-of-control wildfires in B.C. lead to evacuation orders, alerts and smoky skies

As smoky skies fill much of British Columbia's lower mainland and Fraser Valley, 191 wildfires continue to burn across the province, leading to hundreds of evacuation alerts, as well as evacuation orders in the Peace region.

Right now, five of the active wildfires are considered notable: the Flood Falls Trail and Heather Lake wildfires in the Coastal fire centre; the Fry Creek wildfire in the Southeast fire centre; and the Battleship Mountain and Bearhole Lake wildfires in the Prince George fire centre.

An air quality advisory has been issued for Metro Vancouver and the Fraser Valley because of high concentrations of fine particulate matter from wildfire smoke in B.C. and the United States.

An evacuation order was issued Saturday for the municipality of Hudson's Hope, located southwest of Fort St. John in the Peace region.

The Battleship Mountain wildfire, which has scorched 24,000 hectares, is burning out of control about 50 kilometres west of the community of about 850 people.

"You must leave the area immediately," read a release from mayor Dave Heiberg.

The Peace River Regional District also issued evacuation orders for properties outside of Hudson's Hope, in electoral areas B and E.

A reception centre has opened in Fort. St John and, on social media, residents in nearby communities have offered support, shelter and space to store livestock.

More than 65 firefighters, 12 helicopters and 16 pieces of heavy equipment are battling the fire, which was first discovered on Aug. 30.

The small community of Eastgate, near Manning Provincial Park in southern B.C., is still on evacuation alert due to the Heather Lake fire, which is burning about five kilometres south of Manning Park resort.

"An evacuation alert has been issued to prepare you to evacuate your premises or property should it be found necessary," said Sean Vaisler, emergency operations director for the regional district of Okanagan-Similkameen.

The fire has now grown to 8,663 hectares and is being fought by both Canadian and U.S. wildfire agencies, as the fire has stretched across the international border.

Meanwhile, in the Fraser Valley, the Flood Falls Trail wildfire has grown to 458 hectares, prompting the district of Hope and the Fraser Valley Regional District to issue an evacuation alert.

Residents should gather all essential items, including medications and important documents, fill their vehicles' gas tanks, arrange potential accommodations and implement a plan to safely move livestock, the district said in a news release.