'Extreme drought' in area of early-season wildfire near Chetwynd, B.C.
British Columbia's first wildfire evacuation order of this year was rescinded within 24 hours, but local officials say “extreme drought” means the risk remains high.
The Peace River Regional District had issued an evacuation order for dozens of homes near Chetwynd, in northeastern B.C., on Wednesday, as a wildfire approached a subdivision, then downgraded the order to an alert by Thursday.
Julia Nelson, Chetwynd's acting mayor, said strong winds fanned the flames of the early-season fire that sparked along Highway 97.
The growing blaze forced the evacuation of 67 homes, she said. Local RCMP and firefighters went door-to-door telling residents to leave immediately.
But Nelson said calmer winds and rain helped tamp down the blaze overnight.
“So, kind of acts of God just saved our community at this point,” she said.
“The fire chief was saying that this fire was burning so fast and so hot that it almost seemed like we were surprised that there wasn't any structural damage.”
Sharon Nickel, a community engagement specialist with BC Wildfire Service, said she couldn't say how close the fire came to the subdivision.
“But, I guess, knowing that there was an area that was on that tactical evacuation … there was a reason that those homes and residences were evacuated at that time.
“It was a confirmed interface fire,” she told a briefing hosted by the regional district.
Residents allowed to return home have been told to remain ready to leave quickly.
Nickel confirmed rain and calmer winds resulted in lower fire activity.
“It makes it more accessible for us to be able to get in there with direct attack,” she said, adding helicopters were helping about 30 firefighters on the ground.
Nickel said early-season fires aren't uncommon in northern B.C., and the Peace Region is moving into what the wildfire service typically sees as “grass-fire season.”
She said the situation near Chetwynd is “nothing that is completely unheard of,” though it's a bit early to see a fire that may threaten a community.
The Peace Region has been one of the driest areas in B.C. since last summer, and a recent bulletin showed average snowpack there was 65 per cent of normal.
The wildfire is evidence of the “extreme drought” the region is facing, Nelson said, adding her community is looking ahead to a long, hot fire season.
“I don't know if we have the solutions to be able to contain and deal with that.”
She said the province has moved the base for the BC Wildfire Service's northern initial attack crew from Chetwynd to Dawson Creek, about 100 kilometres away.
“It's only April, and our community was extremely at risk to burn,” Nelson said in an interview on Thursday. “That fire was just a few kilometres away … and to me, that's evidence that we do need more assistance.”
The Chetwynd Fire Department works on a volunteer basis, Nelson added.
Asked about the relocation of the base, Nickel said crews will still be stationed in Chetwynd throughout the coming summer.
“The live-in portion of the base is what has closed. Those facilities were no longer safe to be having folks living in them.”
The suspected cause of the blaze is human activity.
Mike Bernier, the member of the legislature for Peace River South, said people need to be careful in such dry conditions.
“We have no moisture in the area. We had hardly any snowpack this year. We are already at a high level of fire risk, which is evident by this (blaze),” he said in an interview at the B.C. legislature on Thursday.
Bernier said he's worried about the rest of the wildfire season in the region.
“We need all hands on deck watching and keeping the area safe.”
The blaze is located in the Prince George Fire Centre, an area spanning northeastern B.C. where open burning has been banned until the fall.
Speaking at the legislature on Thursday, Forests Minister Bruce Ralston said the province is “ready” for what's to come this summer after B.C. saw its worst-ever wildfire season last year, with more than 28,000 square kilometres burned.
The early start to this year's wildfire season includes more than 100 active fires throughout B.C., with four new fires sparked in the last 24 hours.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published April 25, 2024.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Blaine Higgs 'furious' over sexual education presentation
New Brunswick Premier Blaine Higgs has shared his anger on social media over a presentation in at least four high schools.
Grayson Murray's parents say the two-time PGA Tour winner died of suicide
Grayson Murray's parents said Sunday their 30-year-old son took his own life, just one day after he withdrew from a PGA Tour event.
The dreams of a 60-year-old beauty contestant come to an abrupt end in Argentina
A 60-year-old woman saw her dreams of becoming the oldest Miss Universe contestant in history melt away in a haze of sequins and selfies Saturday at Argentina’s annual beauty pageant.
At least 15 dead after severe weather carves path of ruin across multiple U.S. states in the South
Powerful storms killed at least 15 people and left a wide trail of destruction Sunday across Texas, Oklahoma and Arkansas during the latest deadly weather to strike the central U.S.
2 died in plane crash near Squamish, B.C., police confirm
Two people died after a plane went down in a remote area near Squamish, B.C. on Friday, authorities have confirmed.
Driver, 18, gets $3,000 ticket, 32 demerit points after speeding on Laval boulevard
A young driver received a hefty fine from Laval police after they say he was driving nearly 100 km/h over the posted speed limit.
After more than 100 years, Newfoundland's unknown soldier returns home
An unknown Newfoundland soldier, who fought and died on the battlefields in northeastern France during the First World War, is back home this weekend for the first time in more than a hundred years.
Some birds may use 'mental time travel,' study finds
Real quick — what did you have for lunch yesterday? Were you with anyone? Where were you? Can you picture the scene? The ability to remember things that happened to you in the past, especially to go back and recall little incidental details, is a hallmark of what psychologists call episodic memory — and new research indicates that it’s an ability humans may share with birds called Eurasian jays.
Trump confronts repeated boos during raucous Libertarian convention speech
Donald Trump was booed repeatedly while addressing Saturday night’s Libertarian Party National Convention.