Calm, cool weather and more than 320 personnel helped crews put a collar on the Little Bobtail Lake fire Friday but provincial officials say the estimated 25,000-hectare blaze remains challenging and aggressive.
The fire, which is almost nine times the size of all the other wildfires currently burning in the province combined, was 80 per cent contained Friday night, the B.C. Wildfire Management Branch reported. However, while provincial authorities said quiet winds, moderate temperatures and relatively high humidity dampened the fire, the forest in the area remains "very dry" and "the potential for fire behaviour to increase is still there."
Crews have managed to surround much of the fire with trenches and by removing fuel from its path. They also recently conducted burn-off operations - to consume leftover fuel - on the fire's eastern flank.
The branch noted "recent fire behaviour" on the northern flank of the blaze, which is 50 kilometres southwest of Prince George. It said, even with recent precipitation, the fire "is still displaying aggressive behaviour."
An evacuation order is in effect, affecting 80 people, while evacuation alerts have been issued by the Regional District of Bulkley-Nechoko and the Regional District of Fraser Fort George.
No buildings have been lost to the fire. The fire was reported May 8. RCMP and the branch are currently investigating the cause of the blaze.
The branch is reminding the public to stay away from the fire has established security checkpoints in the area. Entering a restrict/evacuated area may endanger fire crews who rely on those roads for operational purposes and escape routes, said the branch, and those areas contain multiple potential hazards.
