The Parrot Lookout wildfire located one kilometre north of the west end of Francois Lake - Image credit: BC Wildfire Service

By CKPG Today

Wildfires

88 new fire starts in past 24 hours leads to multiple evacuation orders and alerts

Jul 10, 2023 | 5:28 AM

PRINCE GEORGE — A whopping 88 new fire starts over the past 24 hours in B.C., many of them in northern B.C.

There are now 13 wildfires of note and 202 of just over 300 wildfires are classified as out- of-control.

It’s meant evacuation orders covering the Townsend creek and Gatcho Lake areas of the Cariboo and evacuation orders of all lands on the north side of Francois Lake and an evacuation order covering Echo lake and Fish Lake 20 kilometres from both Fort St. James and Vanderhoof.

According to Drive BC, Highway 27 – the main transportation route in and out of Fort St. James – has reopened though drivers are cautioned there’s limited visibility due to wildfire smoke.

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Of B.C.’s 306 active wildfires, 236 are lightning-caused, 21 are human-caused and the cause of the remaining 50 is under investigation.

One-hundred and twenty-seven of the wildfires are currently burning in the Prince George Fire Centre.

For updates on the fires in northwest B.C. click here and in the Cariboo click here.