Structures lost in Kiskatinaw River blaze, officials say, as wildfire threat increases in northeast B.C.

Lauren Vanderdeen · CBC News

· Posted: Jun 09, 2025 4:04 PM EDT | Last Updated: June 9

UPDATE — June 10, 2025: B.C.'s large wildfires stay retired of control, contempt calmer time of wind

A rapidly increasing wildfire that forced the evacuation of the assemblage of Kelly Lake in northeast B.C. has present destroyed respective structures, the B.C. Wildfire Service says. 

Discovered 2 weeks ago, the Kiskatinaw River occurrence has grown to almost 216.8 quadrate kilometres and is present pushing into Alberta.

Fire accusation officer Karley Desrosiers said determination are astir 60 B.C. Wildfire Service unit and 60 operation extortion unit from occurrence departments crossed the state moving to support Kelly Lake, a community of 70 people about 60 kilometres southeast of Dawson Creek.

But immoderate structures person been mislaid there, Kevin Dunbar, the enforcement manager of provincial and determination operations with the Ministry of Emergency Management, confirmed astatine a quality league connected the wildfire concern connected Monday.

He said up to 7 structures person been affected, including buildings and mobile homes, but that the ongoing wildfire hazard has prevented them from assessing the afloat grade of the losses.

And the wildfire work said it expects Monday to beryllium "another challenging day, arsenic winds stay elevated and conditions stay precise dry."

"Significant maturation is anticipated again," the work said successful its latest update.

The occurrence has closed Highway 52 East successful some directions betwixt One Island Lake Road and Hiding Creek Road, according to DriveBC.

On Friday, the occurrence crossed the borderline into Alberta, wherever operation extortion crews are contiguous successful the region of Grande Prairie. 

It is 1 of 3 wildfires of enactment successful B.C., a term fixed to fires that are peculiarly disposable oregon that airs a hazard to quality beingness oregon captious infrastructure. 

As of Monday afternoon, Emergency Preparedness Minister Kelly Greene says determination were 120 households connected evacuation bid passim B.C.

Pocket Knife Creek occurrence merges

Further north, about 150 kilometres southwest of Fort Nelson, the Pocket Knife Creek fire has ballooned successful size to 610.5 quadrate kilometres aft merging with different blaze.

The occurrence is present designated a wildfire of note. 

Fire behaviour determination is expected to summation owed to a upwind informing successful effect for the Fort St. John zone, according to the wildfire service's latest update.

The Peace River Regional District has issued 3 evacuation orders for the area, and a section of Highway 97 is closed, according to DriveBC.

Dry, windy conditions expected to worsen Summit Lake fire

The 3rd wildfire of enactment is the Summit Lake fire, located westbound of Fort Nelson, which has grown to 106.67 quadrate kilometres.

The B.C. Wildfire Service has said to expect "extreme fire behaviour" determination arsenic a acold beforehand moves into the portion Monday.

"The continuation of lukewarm adust weather, combined with beardown gusting winds, of adaptable directions summation occurrence behaviour connected galore of the wildfires successful Fort Nelson Complex," the work said successful an online update.

Northern Rockies Regional Municipality has issued an evacuation bid for the Tetsa River area, and a agelong of Highway 97 is closed owed to the wildfire.

There are 82 active wildfires successful B.C. arsenic of midday Monday, much than fractional of which are classified arsenic "out of control."