Cariboo Fire Centre (CaFC) crews continue to work to get a handle on the Burgess Creek wildfire, located between Williams Lake and Quesnel, Monday morning (April 22).
Fanned by strong winds, the wildfire grew rapidly to 1,600 hectares between when it was first discovered Saturday (April 20) afternoon and Sunday, with the Cariboo Regional District issuing an evacuation alert for six parcels of land in the area Sunday evening.
As of Monday morning, there are 50 crew members working to contain the human-caused Burgess Creek wildfire, which is located within a series of logging blocks.
Heavy equipment operators also worked through the night on the wildfire to build a fire guard on the south side of the fire and aircraft are also assigned to the fire to support crews, said Madison Dahl, fire information officer for the CaFC.
“That’s our focus right now, is the south flank of the fire,” noted Dahl in an interview Monday morning, adding variable winds are in the forecast.
“The dry conditions aren’t doing us any favours,” she said, noting, however, the fire didn’t see much growth Sunday.
When asked about the possibly of an early campfire (Category 1) ban, Dahl said BCWS is always considering the weather, including long and short term forecasts.
Currently there is a Category 1 and 2 fire ban in the CFC.
Campfires are still allowed, however, Dahl urges residents to use extreme caution.
READ MORE: UPDATE: Wildfire between Williams Lake, Quesnel grows to 1,600 hectares