PRINCE GEORGE—It’s been a week since th Pine River Fire started, which has since burned 2,542 hectares. Clouds of thick smoke covered the skies near to Highway 97.
Last friday, the highway shut down for 24 hours but has since been reopened.
The BCWS has determined the fire as human caused, but there’s no exact reason yet. They say it was not a cigarette butt or campfire.
“There’s a whole variety of different things that could cause that. It can be anything from, sparks off of power tools, to ATV riding, to even things as simple as mowing the grass,” said Sharon Nickel, Communications Specialist for PG Fire Centre.
The fire has quickly died down. Satellite Images provided by NASA show just how quickly that happened. Heat images from August 14th and August 20th can be seen.
The PG Fire Centre says that highways are not at risk right now
“So right now we’re not seeing an impact to the highways due to that fire, however if there were to be a distinction in weather, we would have continue days of hot weather and increased winds. The activity could pick up and there could be impact at that time but right now there’s no immediate threat to the highway,” said Nickel
There still two evacuation alert in the area issues by the District of Chetwynd and the Peace River regional district. But officials say it’s a pre-cautionary measure.
“It’s a precautionary measure to the highway and residents in the area. If we do receive additional precipitation and the fire activity does stay low where it is, those would likely be rescinded in the near future,” said Nickel.
Chetwynd, Mackenzie, and Powder King do not have immediate threats right now, but the fire is still being categorized as out of control. So far more than a dozen firefighters and one helicopter have been used to try and take out the flames.
