Latest news with #SummitLake
CTV News
2 days ago
- Climate
- CTV News
Wildfire of note downgraded in B.C., remains burning out of control
The Pocket Knife Creek wildfire south of Fort Nelson, B.C., seen in this handout photo on Wednesday, June 10, 2025, is now classified as "being held" and is not expected to grow outside its current perimeter. (The Canadian Press / Handout / BC Wildfire Service) A recent soaking of rain in northeastern British Columbia has helped to remove the one remaining fire out of the so-called wildfire of note category, although the Summit Lake blaze is still labelled as burning out of control. Two other wildfires of note, meaning they are highly visible or a threat to communities, were also taken off that list this week. The Kiskatinaw River fire and the Pocket Knife Creek wildfire, were also both downgraded after being deemed 'held.' The BC Wildfire Service has said up to 100 millimetres of rain in some areas has significantly reduced wildfire activity and more wet weather is in the forecast. That area in northeastern B.C. has had repeated years of drought and the most recent drought map puts the level at three on a scale of five, which means conditions are still severely dry. There are about 80 fires currently burning in B.C., most of which are in the northeast and more than 80 per cent are believed to have been caused by lightning. This report by The Canadian Press was first published June 20, 2025.
CBC
09-06-2025
- Climate
- CBC
Evacuation orders issued in B.C.'s Peace River due to Pocket Knife Creek wildfire
The B.C. Wildfire Service says the Pocket Knife Creek wildfire in the province's northeast has merged with another blaze, increasing its size "substantially." It says the fire is now more than 610 square kilometres in size and is considered an out-of-control wildfire of note. The Peace River Regional District says the fire poses an "immediate danger to life safety" and as of 5 p.m. PT on Sunday it had issued two evacuation orders in areas surrounding Highway 97 and Buckinghorse River. It also issued an evacuation alert for an area west of the highway and north of Trutch. According to DriveBC, Highway 97 is closed between Prophet River and North Sikanni Brake Check due to the advancing wildfire and limited visibility due to smoke. Officials issued earlier evacuation orders due to the Kiskatinaw River wildfire, another wildfire of note near the B.C.-Alberta border that's about 130 square kilometres in size. The wildfire service says the third wildfire of note is the Summit Lake wildfire, which it expects will keep growing due to winds and warm weather. As of Sunday afternoon it was about 106 square kilometres in size.
CBC
03-06-2025
- Climate
- CBC
Alaska Highway closed again by wildfire in B.C.'s far north
A raging wildfire in B.C.'s far north has, once again, prompted the closure of the Alaska Highway (Highway 97) in both directions west of Fort Nelson. The Summit Lake wildfire, which grew overnight and now covers 26.3 square kilometres, was first discovered on May 28, but grew aggressively between Sunday and Monday, prompting a highway closure for much of Monday. While the Alaska Highway partially reopened to allow single-lane alternating traffic around 9:30 p.m. PT on Monday, it was closed again around 12 p.m. PT on Tuesday due to the blaze. Commuters have been asked to check DriveBC for the latest on the stretch, with no detour available. An evacuation alert remains in place for a stretch of the highway in the Tetsa Lake area, with the Northern Rockies Regional Municipality warning people there to be ready to leave at a moment's notice. The B.C. Wildfire Service (BCWS) said in an online update that, while maintaining access to the critical Highway 97 stretch was a priority, the safety of crews and the public was its primary objective. "This wildfire experienced growth overnight; none of the growth was in the direction of Highway 97 or toward identified assets," the Tuesday update reads. "Weather will continue to have impacts on fire behaviour and highway access." The BCWS said in its update that it conducted a planned ignition on Monday to limit the wildfire's impact on the highway, and larger planned ignitions would be conducted on Tuesday. "Much of this fire is in incredibly difficult and inaccessible terrain," the update reads. "Ground crews are prioritizing work in accessible areas, and helicopters are providing overhead support." Wildfires concentrated in north Sarah Budd, a BCWS fire information officer, said that the bulk of wildfire activity was occurring in the northern half of the province, particularly the northeast corner. As of Tuesday afternoon, there were just under 70 fires burning in B.C. "In the northeast, where we have the bulk of our current fire activity, we are expecting slightly higher winds today and tomorrow," she told CBC News on Tuesday. "And with significantly higher winds on Thursday and Friday into the weekend, while we don't anticipate lightning or precipitation today or tomorrow, what we do think we're going to see is an extension of ... hot, dry, windy conditions." Both of B.C.'s "wildfires of note" — those that are particularly visible or pose a threat to public safety — are in northern B.C., the Summit Lake wildfire being one of them. The Kiskatinaw River wildfire near the B.C.-Alberta border in northeastern B.C. has led to 55 addresses being put on evacuation order, and officials say strong winds increased fire activity on that blaze. As of Tuesday afternoon, it covers an area of just under 40 square kilometres. Highway 52 East remains closed in the area due to the blaze, which is burning close to the Pembina Steeprock gas processing facility.
CTV News
03-06-2025
- Climate
- CTV News
Alaska Highway reopened after nearby wildfire forced closure near Fort Nelson, B.C.
A wildfire burning northeast of Summit Lake, B.C. is seen in this handout image on Monday, June 2, 2025. THE CANADIAN PRESS/HO — BC Wildfire Service *MANDATORY CREDIT* The stretch of the Alaska Highway near Fort Nelson, B.C., that closed Monday due to a nearby wildfire has reopened to single lane traffic. Drive BC announced the update in a post around 9:30 p.m., saying the status could change quickly depending on wildfire activity. The BC Wildfire Service says the blaze is about 26 square kilometres in size and is burning out of control about 10 kilometres northeast of Summit Lake. It is one of two 'wildfires of note' in the province and prompted the Northern Rockies Regional Municipality to issue an evacuation alert on Monday for the Tetsa River Area. The wildfire service's latest update says the so-called Summit Lake fire 'experienced significant overnight growth' between Sunday and Monday and 'continues to display aggressive fire behaviour,' growing towards Highway 97. It says the single-lane alternating traffic is now open between kilometres 580 and 589, but notes that visibility is limited in the area. The service says there are more than 70 wildfires burning in the province as of Tuesday morning, 50 per cent of which are considered out of control. This report by Brieanna Charlebois, The Canadian Press, was first published June 3, 2025.
CTV News
03-06-2025
- Climate
- CTV News
Alaska Highway reopened after nearby wildfire forced closure near Fort Nelson, B.C.
A wildfire burning northeast of Summit Lake, B.C. is seen in this handout image on Monday, June 2, 2025. THE CANADIAN PRESS/HO — BC Wildfire Service *MANDATORY CREDIT* The stretch of the Alaska Highway near Fort Nelson, B.C., that closed Monday due to a nearby wildfire has reopened to single lane traffic. Drive BC announced the update in a post around 9:30 p.m., saying the status could change quickly depending on wildfire activity. The BC Wildfire Service says the blaze is about 26 square kilometres in size and is burning out of control about 10 kilometres northeast of Summit Lake. It is one of two 'wildfires of note' in the province and prompted the Northern Rockies Regional Municipality to issue an evacuation alert on Monday for the Tetsa River Area. The wildfire service's latest update says the so-called Summit Lake fire 'experienced significant overnight growth' between Sunday and Monday and 'continues to display aggressive fire behaviour,' growing towards Highway 97. It says the single-lane alternating traffic is now open between kilometres 580 and 589, but notes that visibility is limited in the area. The service says there are more than 70 wildfires burning in the province as of Tuesday morning, 50 per cent of which are considered out of control. This report by Brieanna Charlebois, The Canadian Press, was first published June 3, 2025.
