Close X
Monday, November 11, 2024
ADVT 
National

Donnie Creek Wildfire now the largest in B.C.'s history: Wildfire Service

Darpan News Desk The Canadian Press, 19 Jun, 2023 10:49 AM
  • Donnie Creek Wildfire now the largest in B.C.'s history: Wildfire Service

The Donnie Creek wildfire has grown into the largest blaze ever recorded in British Columbia, BC Wildfire Service said Sunday.

The fire, which is burning south of Fort Nelson in northeastern B.C., is now estimated at more than 5,343 square kilometres in size.

It surpasses the Plateau fire that charred 5,210 square kilometres northwest of Williams Lake in 2017 and was previously considered the province's largest fire.

The Donnie Creek wildfire is one of about 80 fires burning across the province.

B.C. Wildfire Service Information Officer Marg Drysdale said crews are focused on protecting infrastructure and the Alaska Highway, but expect the blaze to continue to grow throughout the summer.

"We will have crews on it into the fall. It is an ongoing event," she said in a telephone interview.

The service lists the fire as out of control, noting that it is highly visible and may pose a threat to public safety. It said 250 BC Wildfire Service personnel, including 152 firefighters, are working to control the blaze.

"Our crews are working on areas where they believe they can have the best results and it would lessen the impact to people in infrastructure in the area," Drysdale said.

She explained the fire was started by lightning but is currently the result of about eight fires that grew quickly and merged into one blaze.

"It's really important for people right across the province to understand that we have not hit the fire season that we normally see in July and August," she said.

"We're in the middle of June. If conditions continue as they have, if we get a hot summer, we are going to see more impacts."

This comes as the Peace River Regional District cancelled its evacuation order for Trutch and the surrounding areas, meaning residents can return home.

Earlier Sunday, the district also rescinded its evacuation order for the One Island Lake community, which is impacted by the 250-square-kilometre West Kiskatinaw wildfire.

Though the district said people from that area may return home, an evacuation alert remains in place so they should continue to be prepared to leave on short notice.

MORE National ARTICLES

Eyes on the weather as fierce wildfire rages, forces evacuations in northeastern B.C.

Eyes on the weather as fierce wildfire rages, forces evacuations in northeastern B.C.
The extreme fire activity prompted the District of Tumbler Ridge to skip an evacuation alert Thursday and jump right to an order requiring all 2,400 residents to get out immediately and seek refuge in Dawson Creek or Fort St. John.  

Eyes on the weather as fierce wildfire rages, forces evacuations in northeastern B.C.

'These are the rules': Canada to deport Sikh family to India

'These are the rules': Canada to deport Sikh family to India
Hardeep Singh Chahal, his pregnant wife Kamaldeep Kaur and their three-year-old daughter, who live in Penticton, were given deportation orders last month for reasons withheld for privacy reasons, the Houston Today newspaper reported.

'These are the rules': Canada to deport Sikh family to India

Canada invites 4,800 candidates for Express Entry draw in June

Canada invites 4,800 candidates for Express Entry draw in June
The 14th draw of the country's flagship economic immigration management system on Thursday follows the most recent draw on May 24 in which 4,800 candidates with a minimum CRS score of 488 were invited.

Canada invites 4,800 candidates for Express Entry draw in June

Jobless at 5.2 per cent: Statistics Canada

Jobless at 5.2 per cent: Statistics Canada
The jobless rate rose to 5.2 per cent in May, ending a streak of eight months of job gains. T-D director of economics James Orlando says the question now is whether this is a one-off, or the start of a trend.  

Jobless at 5.2 per cent: Statistics Canada

Bus carrying students catches fire in Chilliwack

Bus carrying students catches fire in Chilliwack
The City of Chilliwack says no injuries were reported and crews contained the blaze about 95 kilometres east of Vancouver. B-C Hydro says power went out for nearly 25-hundred customers as a result of the fire.  

Bus carrying students catches fire in Chilliwack

Surrey Arson suspect charged

Surrey Arson suspect charged
Two fires occurred in the northwest part of the city on May 28th, less than 12 hours apart. There were two businesses on the lower level as well as a residential units on the upper level of the building that sustained significant fire and water damage.

Surrey Arson suspect charged