Officials say their goal today is to take advantage of a brief reprieve brought on by snow and rain in the Peace Region Saturday night.
In a provincial update Sunday afternoon, fire information officer Emily Epp said the Siphon Creek fire received eight millimetres of precipitation last night while the fire at Beatton Airport Road received three millimetres.
Click here for a map of wildfires burning in B.C.
The two continue to burn. However, evacuation orders have been lifted for both areas. Firefighters are spending today establishing control lines around the fires, while residents return to their homes.
“Our goal for the next day is to get ahead and take control of the reprieve (the precipitation) has given,” Epp said.
While the precipitation aided crews on the ground, it wasn't enough to fully suppress the fires. The forecast is expected to return to warm, dry conditions this week.
The Siphon Creek fire is estimated at 41,400 hectares. Alberta firefighters will join efforts on that fire today, but the amount of resources they have available to deploy could not be confirmed.
The fire is burning 26,695 hectares on the B.C. side of the border and 11,775 hectares in Alberta. It is continuing to grow, spurred on by wind gusts.
Eighty-one fire fighters, nine helicopters and 15 pieces of heavy equipment are tending to the fire.
An incident management team from Ontario has taken over on the Alberta side, whilie a nine-person BC Wildfire Service incident management team works from the other side of the border.
Evacuation alerts for the areas remain in place.
For evacuation alerts and orders: prrd.bc.ca
The Beatton Road fire is estimated at 15,000 hectares. An evacuation alert also remains in place for this fire affecting areas north of Fort St. John.
Assigned to the fire are 121 fire fighters, 10 helicopters, 15 pieces of heavy equipment and a 13-person incident management team.
Crews are using the weekend's wet weather to advance on control lines and mop up the fires where needed. The fire continues to burn. Firefighters are activley fighting the blaze and keeping an eye for further spreading of the flames.
A total of 78 fires are burning in the province as of May 8. The BC Wildfire Service says 10 of those are undergoing investigations for arson by the Conservation Officer Service. But, officials would not release any more information or identify which of these fires are being investigated.
The majority of the fires were started from escaped open burns. There were seven new fire starts on May 7. The majority of the fires burning in the province are in the Peace Region.
The early start to the season has wildfires burning at historic rates. Compared to the 10 year average, the Prince George Fire Centre has had nearly three times the amount of fires normally seen at this time of year, with more than seven times the amount of hectares burned.
Drone use yet another battle for firefighters
B.C. Wildfire officials are encouraging people to avoid the use of drones in and around the area where wildfires are burning.
Two incidences were reported over the weekend.
A group was spotted near the Beatton Airport Road fire preparing to launch a drone. They fled after being spotted by fire officials.
Another drone was identified flying on the Alberta side of the Siphon Creek fire.
Officials stress that the use of drones around active wildfires puts the life of air crews and those on the ground in jeopardy, as suppression efforts are halted, and all air traffic is grounded for safety reasons.
"Going into fire season, the public is reminded that Transport Canada and the B.C. Wildfire Service explicitly prohibit the use of drones of any size near a wildfire," they stressed in a release. "Violating these rules can put the lives of aircrews and those on the ground in jeopardy."
Evacuees return home, remain on alert
Evacuees from the two fires in rural communities in regional district Area B north of the city, returned home May 8 but remained on alert to leave again if the circumstances required.
A total of 527 people are receiving support from British Columbia Emergency Social Services. An evacuation centre has been set up at the North Peace Arena.
In a release, the Peace River Regional District asked those returning to their homes to travel slowly on the roads as wildfire crews are continuing to do work in the area.
“Equipment and crews will be moving within the region and they ask that everyone slow down on the roads. Please be aware that there is increased traffic in the area.”
The BC Wildfire asks that the public stay away from the area, as only residents will be allowed back in.
"We would like to limit the traffic in this area to assist crews continunig their work," the regional district said.
For more information regarding the Peace River Regional District evacuation orders and alerts, contact the Emergency Operations Centre at 250-784-4838 or 250-784-3200.
For more info regarding the Blueberry River First Nations, please contact Cici Sterritt at 250-305-6077.
