Warm, dry weather stoking 11 wildfires left over from last year near Fort Nelson
A year after thousands were forced to flee Fort Nelson, mayor says new fires stirring difficult memories
The B.C. Wildfire Service says 11 fires that have been smouldering underground near Fort Nelson, B.C., since last year are being whipped up by warm and dry weather conditions.
The service said in a Facebook post that the fires have begun visibly smoking recently and officials are monitoring the blazes closely. Wildfire crews and aircraft have been sent to hot spots where the fires have the greatest potential risk to infrastructure.
The wildfire service said crews are focusing on blazes that can be safely targeted, and resources from elsewhere in the province are being mobilized to help.
Northern Rockies Regional Municipality Mayor Rob Fraser said the return of wildfire activity has stirred difficult memories in Fort Nelson, part of the regional municipality in northeast B.C., where more than 4,700 people were evacuated around this time last year.
"There's still a few sore spots. I think some people are still a little emotional," he told CBC News.
He said drought conditions continue in the region, and residents are being urged to stay alert.
"Small sparks that come out of the muffler of a motorcycle or an ATV can cause a fire that will rage if it gets windy," he said. "People are on edge about that."
Fraser added that local efforts are underway to mitigate risk, including education campaigns and property inspections during high-risk weather.
The wildfire service said lower-risk fires are being monitored, and the work dealing with the "overwintering" fires in the province's northeast began in February, where crews tackled "priority hot spots under frozen conditions."
Information officer Erika Berg said conditions in the northeast are expected to remain dry through the weekend.
"We're expecting some variable winds and patchy precipitation over the weekend affecting just the Kamloops and southeast fire centres," Berg told CBC News. "Other areas of the province are expected to remain dry and that does include [the] northeastern corner of the province."
She said spring is typically when wildfires begin to appear due to human activity, before lightning becomes a factor later in the season.
"We are asking folks to be vigilant and very careful with their fire use, if it is permitted in your area," she said. "We do have some open fire prohibitions and restrictions."
The B.C. Wildfire Service dashboard says there are currently 33 active wildfires in the province, with 10 considered out of control, 17 categorized as under control and the remaining six being held.
With files from CBC's Amelia John