British Columbia香蕉视频直播檚 first wildfire evacuation order of this season lasted under 24 hours, but local officials say dry conditions mean the risk is still high.
Mike Bernier, the member of the legislature for Peace River South, says there香蕉视频直播檚 香蕉视频直播渘o moisture in the area,香蕉视频直播� which saw hardly any snowpack this winter.
He says the early-season wildfire was discovered 香蕉视频直播渞eally close香蕉视频直播� to a small subdivision about four kilometres outside Chetwynd, B.C., on Wednesday afternoon.
Bernier says the blaze flared up and quickly grew to 50 hectares, prompting an evacuation order from the Peace River Regional District.
The order was downgraded to an evacuation alert Thursday, with residents told to remain ready to leave on short notice.
Julia Nelson, acting mayor of Chetwynd, says the order affected 67 homes.
The Wildmare Creek fire is evidence of the 香蕉视频直播渆xtreme drought香蕉视频直播� the region is facing, she said in an interview on Thursday.
香蕉视频直播淭he fire chief was saying that this fire was burning so fast and so hot that it almost seemed like we were surprised that there wasn香蕉视频直播檛 any structural damage.香蕉视频直播�
Nelson said strong winds had fanned the flames on Wednesday, but calmer conditions and rain helped to bring reprieve last night.
香蕉视频直播淪o, kind of acts of God just saved our community at this point,香蕉视频直播� she said.
The BC Wildfire Service website says local RCMP and the Chetwynd Fire Department had conducted a 香蕉视频直播渢actical evacuation香蕉视频直播� for homes in the immediate area of the blaze, which is now estimated at 76 hectares in size.
The Ministry of Transportation香蕉视频直播檚 DriveBC information service shows a 10-kilometre stretch of Highway 97 has reopened to escorted single-lane alternating traffic.
Nelson said her community is looking ahead to a long, hot fire season.
香蕉视频直播淚 don香蕉视频直播檛 know if we have the solutions to be able to contain and deal with that.香蕉视频直播�
She said the province has moved the base for the BC Wildfire Service香蕉视频直播檚 northern initial attack crew from Chetwynd to Dawson Creek, about 100 kilometres away.
香蕉视频直播淚t香蕉视频直播檚 only April, and our community was extremely at risk to burn. That fire was just a few kilometres away 香蕉视频直播� and to me, that香蕉视频直播檚 evidence that we do need more assistance.香蕉视频直播�
The Chetwynd Fire Department works on a volunteer basis, Nelson added.
The suspected cause of the blaze is human activity, and Bernier said it香蕉视频直播檚 so dry, people need to be careful.
香蕉视频直播淚t really has me worried for the whole season up in the Peace Region if this continues. We need all hands on deck watching and keeping the area safe,香蕉视频直播� he said in an interview at the B.C. legislature on Thursday.
The Peace Region has been one of the driest areas in B.C. since last summer, and a recent bulletin showed average snowpack there was 65 per cent of normal.
Forests Minister Bruce Ralston said Thursday that the province is 香蕉视频直播渞eady香蕉视频直播� for what香蕉视频直播檚 to come this summer after B.C. saw its worst-ever season last year, with more than 28,000 square kilometres burned.
The early start to this year香蕉视频直播檚 wildfire season includes more than 100 active fires throughout B.C., with four new fires sparked in the last 24 hours.
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