Close X
Tuesday, November 12, 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Earlier Sunday, the district also rescinded its evacuation order for the One Island Lake community, which is impacted by the 250-square-kilometre West Kiskatinaw wildfire.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

Review blames weather for Vancouver airport mess

Review blames weather for Vancouver airport mess
The report says two dozen aircraft with passengers aboard waited up to 11 hours on the tarmac because there were no gates available, while passengers were given inaccurate information and communication from the airport authority was inadequate.

Review blames weather for Vancouver airport mess

Man beaten by Vancouver police kind, loyal: sister

Man beaten by Vancouver police kind, loyal: sister
Myles Gray, 33, died on Aug. 13, 2015, following a beating involving seven officers that sent him into cardiac arrest and left him with a broken eye socket, a partially dislocated jaw, a crushed voice box and a ruptured testicle and other injuries.

Man beaten by Vancouver police kind, loyal: sister

PSAC sets strike deadline for federal government

PSAC sets strike deadline for federal government
The Public Service Alliance of Canada says some 155,000 employees are prepared to walk off the job beginning Wednesday, including 35,000 workers from the Canada Revenue Agency. The biggest sticking point in the talks appears to be pay, with the union calling for raises to keep up with inflation and the rising cost of living.

PSAC sets strike deadline for federal government

CBC should exit Twitter over new label: expert

CBC should exit Twitter over new label: expert
The executive director of the Master of Public Policy in Digital Society at McMaster University says an exit from Twitter would be an opportunity for CBC to refresh the public's understanding of how its funded and maintain editorial independence.

CBC should exit Twitter over new label: expert

Inquest into VPD-linked death to begin in Burnaby

Inquest into VPD-linked death to begin in Burnaby
British Columbia's Prosecution Service declined to approve criminal charges against the officers in 2020, saying they were the only eye witnesses to the 33-year-old's death and offered accounts described as incomplete and sometimes inconsistent.

Inquest into VPD-linked death to begin in Burnaby

Avalanche claims life of snowmobiler in B.C.

Avalanche claims life of snowmobiler in B.C.
The avalanche safety organization says a trio of snowmobilers was riding a slope above Whirlpool Lake on Saturday when two of the riders were caught up in a slide. Avalanche Canada says one rider managed to avoid being buried, but one was trapped under two metres of snow.    

Avalanche claims life of snowmobiler in B.C.