Firefighters brace for windy weekend; China Creek wildfire won't be tamed
Digital Reporter
Saturday, August 16, 2014, 4:10 PM -
Wildfires continue to chew through British Columbia communities, with no help from Mother Nature.
Fire crews are bracing for windy conditions that could strengthen a fire in the north-central Interior between Houston and Burns Lake.
About 120 homes have been evacuated in the area.
RELATED: Fire in B.C. forces evacuation
Over 2000 firefighters will return to the line tomorrow to battle #BCWildfire across the province.
pic.twitter.com/29JF39GU0P
— BCGovFireInfo (@BCGovFireInfo) August 16, 2014
The Wildfire Management Branch said firefighters were gearing up for another 24 to 36 hours of vigorous fire activity at the 40-square-kilometre China Nose blaze as days of major heat pushed the fire danger rating to high or extreme across most of the province.
Winds on Saturday are expected to reach 40 km/h due to a cold front.
The Tommy Lakes fire, located 60 km northeast of Pink Mountain, is expected to grow in the next 24 hours. Info: https://t.co/NxyfALfzEb
— BCGovFireInfo (@BCGovFireInfo) August 16, 2014
Fire information officer Mike McCulley said the winds were expected through Friday night, and would produce extreme fire behaviour that would make it challenging to battle the blaze.
The Regional District of Bulkley-Nechako issued expanded evacuation orders and alerts for the mainly rural region southeast of Houston and south of Highway 16 on Friday morning.
Here's another from later in the day farther east of the Mtn. pic.twitter.com/SRNywSOZ6J
— BV Lakes StikineDist (@TranBC_BVLDS) August 15, 2014
The advisory has put 574 homes on alert, meaning those occupants must be ready to leave at a moment's notice.
With files from The Canadian Press, CFTK
