Posted on 07/08/2015 5:03:57 PM PDT by Jet Jaguar
B.C. Wildfire Management confirmed the Big Beaver Creek fire has jumped the Alaska Highway between Prophet River and Fort Nelson, forcing the road to be closed and cutting Fort Nelson off from the south for the time being.
The Northern Rockies Regional Municipality (NRRM) and the provincial government issued the notice Wednesday afternoon.
The road closure takes affect 30 kilometres north of Prophet River at Mile 250 of the Alaska Highway.
All 52 firefighters tending to the blaze were pulled off earlier in the day as increased winds in the area fanned the flames to the point where it unsafe to continue fighting the fire.
“As of today just with the winds that were in the area, it picked up some aggressive fire behaviour,” wildfire spokesperson Jill Kelsh said. “Crews were pulled off it due to safety concerns and it reached the highway. Now it’s crossed the highway.”
Traffic controls are in place and the RCMP is on scene, Kelsh added.
NRRM mayor Bill Streeper said drivers on the highway cannot see where they are going.
“All we are doing is monitoring the fire, and as soon as the safety concern changes, which could happen instantly if the wind changes — we’ll be opening the road back up,” he said.
There is no estimate as to when the road could be reopened.
Drive BC will provide an update at 7 p.m. Wednesday.
“We realize the importance of the highway and the transportation of goods back and forth and so the minute we can confirm it’s safe, we’ll open it,” Streeper added.
The Big River Creek fire was discovered Sunday. It was caused by lightning.
Since then, one helicopter, an air tanker and 52 fire fighters have been combating the blaze.
The air tankers have been establishing protection lines for ground crews, prioritizing the highway as the main area of concern.
Before being pulled off the fire, crews were establishing access points and laying hose.
Scattered showers are expected in the Fort Nelson area beginning this evening and into Thursday.
“We’re hoping that the rains will come sooner rather than later,” Kelsh said.
- See more at: http://www.alaskahighwaynews.ca/regional-news/fort-nelson/extreme-fire-activity-blocks-alaska-highway-at-mile-250-1.1994334#sthash.roAlxu0c.dpuf
Please ping.
What’s going on in the Canadian West? Smoke is even coming down here.
Canada Ping!
Big fires. Alaska and Yukon and British Columbia.
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