The recent rain and cooler temperatures have helped fire crews battle the wildfire, but it remains classified as "out of control." Photo courtesy: BC Wildfire Service

By Tommy Osborne

Valemount wildfire

Fire crews continue to fight “out of control” Valemount wildfire

Sep 23, 2024 | 2:43 PM

PRINCE GEORGE – A wildfire broke out on the night of September 20 around 15 kilometres southeast of Valemount, and fire crews have been responding over the week trying to control what BC Wildfire Services classifies as an “out of control” wildfire.

“On Saturday, our crews were somewhat challenged. We had 30km/h winds, so that was difficult to work in those conditions. On Sunday, we were helped out by the weather, we had some precipitation fall on the fire and we also had lighter winds, around the 15km/h range. This morning, also some promising fire behavior, we saw rank one and two fire behaviour, that’s the lowest type of rank that we have. That’s a smoldering ground fire or a low surface fire,” said Fire Information Officer Emelie Peacock.

While the fire remains classified as “out of control,” Peacock adds the rain over the weekend, combined with more rain forecasted on the way, means no substantial fire growth is anticipated.

“We have three initial attack crews from the BC Wildfire Service. We also have one crew of type-two contract firefighters and another type-two contract crew on the way. Our ground crews are assisted by one helicopter that’s doing bucketing operations currently, as well as one piece of heavy equipment, we have an excavator there that is helping the crews to build guard,” Peacock said.

Given the weather conditions and the crews currently on scene, Peacock says there is no immediate threat to the Village of Valemount, so no evacuation orders or alerts have been issued.

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“However, the fire is highly visible from the village and from areas where people recreate around the north end of Kinbasket Lake. There may be periods of smoke into the village, this will likely reduce over the next week,” she added.

While it may seem late in the season for more wildfires, Peacock says this actually isn’t that uncommon, and there are currently 200 wildfires burning across the province. This is largely due in part to ongoing drought conditions, as well as some of the fires, including this Valemount one, being human caused.

“Currently in the Prince George Fire Center, one third of all fires burning across British Columbia are actually burning here. So we have 66 fires on the landscape, and we do anticipate that wildfires will continue to either keep burning, or we’ll have new starts, right up until the snow flies,” she said.

Peacock concluded by reminding people that Catetory 2 and 3 open fires remain prohibited across the Prince George Fire Centre, although Category 1 campfires are allowed.

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