Kiskatinaw River Wildfire Encroaches on Kelly Lake Community
Evacuation orders are in effect after strong winds pushed flames to within a few hundred metres of the community
Overview
- Flames were reported within a couple hundred metres of Kelly Lake as of Friday, with the wildfire covering about 119 square kilometres.
- The Peace River Regional District ordered full evacuation of Kelly Lake after officials warned the fire flank could not be contained.
- Fire crews have erected heavy-equipment fire guards north of the community and operated sprinkler systems to protect homes from spot fires.
- A cold front is forecast to bring erratic, gusty southwest winds over the weekend along with rising temperatures and falling humidity that could drive more aggressive fire behaviour.
- Provincial resources are stretched across roughly 70 active wildfires in B.C., including the 83-square-kilometre Summit Lake fire near the Alaska Highway.