The BC Wildfire Service is currently responding to multiple wildfires in the Bulkley Fire Zone of the Northwest Fire Centre, including the Torkelsen Lake wildfire.

Torkelsen Lake wildfire:

• The Torkelsen Lake wildfire is about 25 kilometres south of the community of Fort Babine and covers about 850 hectares.
• Seventeen firefighters are on site today, assisted by helicopters and heavy equipment.
• The Nilkitkwa Forest Service Road is currently open to traffic, but the Regional District of Bulkley-Nechako has issued an evacuation order related to this fire. For more information and maps related to this evacuation order, visit the Regional District of Bulkley-Nechako website at: http://www.rdbn.bc.ca/

Mill Lake wildfire

• A highly visible fire is burning about 12 kilometres north of Kitwanga near Mill Lake.
• This fire covers about two hectares and is burning on a steep slope in high terrain.
• One helicopter has been assigned to monitor this fire and more firefighting resources will be deployed as they become available.  
• No communities are threatened by this fire at this time.

Pope Forest Service Road wildfire:

• The lightning-caused Pope Forest Service Road wildfire has burned about 140 hectares near Murder Creek in the Kispiox Valley, about 37 kilometres northwest of Hazelton.
• This fire is now surrounded with a guard line and the fire is burning towards that line.
• Ground crews are on site, supported by heavy equipment and air support.

Gail Creek FSR wildfire and West Babine River wildfire:

• Two wildfires, the Gail Creek FSR fire and the West Babine River fire, are burning on opposite sides of Babine River Corridor Provincial Park.
• The Gail Creek fire has burned 100 hectares and is not threatening any values. This fire is being monitored.
• West Babine River fire has burned about 1,050 hectares. This fire is being monitored and a structural protection assessment has been completed for the Silver Hilton Lodge.

Nichyeskwa Creek wildfire:

• The Nichyeskwa Creek Fire is about 80 kilometres northeast of Smithers and about 25 kilometres northwest of Fort Babine. It covers about 140 hectares.
• Ground crews, with the assistance of a helicopter and heavy equipment, are working to stop the fire spreading east towards the 457 Forest Service Road.
• An area restriction order is in place for this wildfire and an evacuation alert has been recommended for the Babine Steelhead Lodge.

The Witset area wildfire is now out. This fire started on Aug. 4 and is suspected to be human-caused.

To report a wildfire or open burning violation, call 1 800 663-5555 toll-free or *5555 on a cellphone. For the latest information on current wildfire activity, burning restrictions, road closures and air quality advisories, call 1 888 3-FOREST or visit http://www.bcwildfire.ca

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