Containment lines running along the northern and eastern edges of the largest active wildfire in B.C. stayed intact overnight, B.C.'s wildfire management branch reported Saturday.
The lines, drawn along the Norman Lake Forest Service Road and Bobtail Forest Service Road, kept growth of the 17,000-hectare Little Bobtail Lake fire "minimal", reported branch personnel. Those lines, along with efforts from crews operating at the southeast corner of the fire over the past days, put the status of the fire at 20 per cent contained.
The branch also said winds were expected to pick up Saturday until late afternoon, with speeds of 20-25 kilometres an hour, gusting to 50 km/h, coming out of the north-northeast. Lower temperatures were also expected.
A fire camp has also been established.
According to EmergencyInfoBC, an evacuation alert is in place for areas around Bednesti Lake, Berman Lake and Dahl Lake Road. The agency asks residents prepare themselves and their property by:
Gathering important papers and moving valuables to alternate locations;
Making arrangements for pets to be moved to a safe location;
Making arrangements for livestock for a safe alternative location in case an evacuation order is issued;
Preparing a 72-hour emergency kit; remember to include any necessary medication.
For more information, visit www.emergencyinfobc.gov.bc.ca.
According to the wildfire branch, an evacuation order affecting 80 people remains in place around the Norman Lake area. So far no homes or other structures have been lost to the fire.
The branch said 270 personnel, including 242 firefighters; 11 helicopters; 23 pieces of heavy equipment; and eight airtankers have deployed against the Little Bobtail Lake fire.
Ground crews, supported by aircract, will be cooling down spot fires and reinforcing dozer lines. Airtankers dumped more than 250,000 litres of water on the fire Friday.
Air quality readings for Prince George remained in the Good to Fair range.
Lightning sparked five new fires in the Cariboo Fire Centre Friday.
The largest was a four-hectare first burning west of Anahim Lake. Three small fires broke out in the Big Bar area and one occurred soughtwest of Quesnel; crews were mopping up one of the Big Bar fires Saturday morning.
Public reports enabled crews to respond quickly and keep the five fires small.
The Branch expected an increase inthunderstorm activity, showers and cooler temperatures. With the chance of lightning in Cariboo-Chilcotin region, the Wildfire Management Branch is appealing to the public to please report any smoke or fires.
To report smoke, flames or an unattended open fire, call 1 800 663-5555 toll-free or dial *5555 on a cellphone.
For up-to-date information on current wildfire activity, burning restrictions, road closures and air quality advisories, visit: www.bcwildfire.ca or call 1 888 3-FOREST.
