An evacuation order has been issued due to an out of control wildfire burning close to Chetwynd in B.C.’s interior.
According to Emergency Info BC, anyone in the Pine River area is being asked to evacuate immediately due to the Wildmare Creek wildfire.
More specifically, the affected area is west of Bisset Creek, south of Pine River and east of Wildmare Creek. This includes all properties on the north side of the highway.
Currently, BC Wildfire Service says the fire is about 40 hectares and suspected to be human-caused.
Highway 97 has been shut down while fire crews work to control it, the BCWS adds.
There are currently 116 active wildfires in the province, four of which were sparked in the last 24 hours. As climate change continues to increase the intensity and frequency of extreme weather events, the BC Wildfire Service says it’s anticipating elevated fire activity this spring.