B.C. Wildfire Management Branch responding to 15 new wildfires

British Columbia’s Wildfire Management Branch (WMB) said on Friday that it was responding to 15 new wildfires in the Prince George Fire Centre region, all of which started the previous day.

These fires were sparked by lightning and are burning in the northern portion of the fire centre.

The Prince George Fire Centre has responded to a total of 29 new wildfires since early last week and all of them were caused by lightning, the WMB said in a media release. The largest of these fires is in the Fort Nelson Fire Zone and covers 200 hectares.

These new fires are currently being assessed and prioritized, the WMB reported. Many of them are in remote areas and access by ground is limited. Firefighting crews, helicopters and airtankers have responded to multiple fires yesterday and are continuing fire suppression activities. Heavy operational activities also continue in the area, including danger tree assessment and falling, mop-up, and helicopter bucketing, the release added.

Related: B.C.’s Elaho wildfire caused by lightning, fire investigator determines

Open fires that are larger than half a metre high by half a metre wide are currently prohibited throughout the Prince George Fire Centre. Anyone found in contravention of an open burning prohibition may be issued a ticket for $345, required to pay an administrative penalty of $10,000 or, if convicted in court, fined up to $100,000 and/or sentenced to one year in jail, the WMB said in the release. If the contravention causes or contributes to a wildfire, the person responsible may be ordered to pay all firefighting and associated costs.

The firefighting announcement came on the same day that the WMB said that they are making “steady progress” on the 586-hectare Elaho wildfire, which was discovered on June 14, about 67 kilometres west of Pemberton. As of Saturday, the fire, which was caused by lightning, was 45% contained.

Also as of noon on Saturday, a campfire ban is in place for many areas of the Coastal Fire Centre, including the Elaho Valley, Squamish, Whistler and Pemberton areas.