Breaking: Issues Evacuation Orders and Alerts for Properties South of Smithers, BC, in Response to Wildfires

A wildfire near Smithers in northwest BC has put dozens of properties on evacuation orders and hundreds on evacuation alert.

The BC Forest Fire Service (BCWS) says the powers creek fire three kilometers south of the city covers an area of ​​20 hectares as of Saturday morning.

In a tweet late Friday, the BCWS said the fire was spreading moderately fast and several pieces of heavy equipment, including air resources, would be working to contain it overnight.

The Bulkley-Nechako Regional District issued an evacuation order for 51 properties west of the Telkwa River, with access from Tatlow Road, at 11pm on Friday.

A evacuation alert covers 206 properties in the vicinity of the fire, according to the regional district.

The district also issued evacuation alerts for a fire southeast of the Powers Creek fire along the 16 Freeway.

The BCWS said Friday that the lake tatin forest fire it was showing a high rate of spread, covering an area of ​​six hectares north of Highway 16.

He evacuation alert it covers nine properties north of the Endako River, which is accessed via Savory Road.

There are currently six “notable fires”, those that are particularly visible or pose a threat to public safety, burning across the province.

While most of them are located in northern BC, the Lake Davis fire east of Mission in the Fraser Valley prompted public warnings Friday.

The increase in fire activity occurs as a heat warning covers inland sections of the Central Coast, the North Coast, and much of the interior.

Environment Canada says the extreme heat is expected to persist until early next week.

Special weather statements also warn of poor air quality due to smoke from wildfires in the northern and central interior.

An evacuation alert means that residents should prepare to evacuate their homes, possibly without warning. An evacuation order means that a resident must leave immediately.