Crews battling the China Nose wildfire had the blaze 50 per cent contained as of Monday morning, according to an update from the B.C. wildfire management branch.
"Crews continue to make good progress on the China Nose wildfire," officials said. "Yesterday, firefighters were able to conduct controlled burn-off operations on the southeastern flank to allow for greater containment.
"Today, crews will be continuing to mop-up the northern and southern flanks of the fire by extinguishing hotspots. Firefighters are continuing to wet line 100 feet on the eastern flank (east and west from Crow Creek) to help prevent further fire growth."
Estimated at 3,450 hectares and located about 15 kilometres south of Houston, the fire had caused some trouble for people living in the area. An evacuation alert remains in effect.
Resources assigned to to the wildfire include 151 firefighters, six helicopters and 14 pieces of heavy equipment. Over 40 support staff have also been assigned to the fire.
Elsewhere, the Chelaslie Lake fire near Entiako and Tweedsmuir Provincial Parks southwest of Prince George grew by nearly 20,000 hectares since last week and remains by far the largest wildfire in the province at 133,771 hectares.
"Heavy equipment continues to be utilized to establish new machine guards and contain new fire perimeters," officials said. "Firefighters are establishing new contingency guards and mopping-up spot fires outside the fire perimeter. A second wildfire management branch camp has been implemented on the Northern side of this fire."
In all, 284 firefighters,15 helicopters and 20 pieces of heavy equipment have been assigned to the fire.
The Stack Creek fire 10 kilometres south of Powder King in the Pine Pass remained completely uncontained as of Monday morning but 49 firefighters, two helicopters and 20 heavy pieces of heavy equipment continued to keep the fire from spreading.
And as of Sunday, the 19,000-hectare Euchiniko Lakes fire on the western boundary of Kluskoil Lake Provincial Park west of Quesnel was 50 per cent contained.
Thirty-two firefighters and two pieces of heavy equipment have been assigned to that blaze.
"Crews are working to suppress hot spots," officials said. "Crews are mopping up on the north end and ignition operations will be used to build guard along the south side."
