There are currently 11 active wildfires in the Bulkley Fire Zone of the Northwest Fire Centre and 23 active wildfires within the Cassiar Fire Zone. Details about some of these fires are provided below.

Nilkitkwa Complex

• The BC Wildfire Service is responding to several fires in the Babine River Corridor that are now known as the Nilkitkwa Complex. Grouping these fires together for response purposes allows for easier resource sharing, fire management and communications with nearby communities.
• Two of these wildfires, the Gail Creek fire (R41914) and the West Babine River fire (R41913), were caused by lightning and have merged on either side of Babine River Corridor Provincial Park. This merged fire will now be referred to as the West Babine River fire. This fire covers about 7,400 hectares and is about 45 kilometres northwest of Fort Babine and 45 kilometres northeast of Hazelton. A structure protection crew, five pieces of heavy equipment and one helicopter are on site. The Silver Hilton Lodge is under an evacuation order and is receiving structural protection.
• The Torkelsen Lake fire (R32182) and the Nichyeskwa Creek fire (R32009) are also part of the Nilkitkwa Complex. The Torkelsen Lake Fire is 21 kilometres south of Fort Babine and covers about 880 hectares. An evacuation order implemented by the Regional District of Bulkley-Nechako remains in effect for the 5 Mile cabin colony north of Smithers Landing. Currently, the Nilkitkwa Forest Service Road and access to Fort Babine have not been impacted by wildfires and are open to traffic. BC Wildfire Service crews are working to keep the fire to the east side of that road.

Nichyeskwa Creek fire

• The Nichyeskwa Creek fire (R32009) is about 25 kilometres northwest of Fort Babine and covers about 250 hectares.
• Twenty-three firefighters, supported by two helicopters and three pieces of heavy machinery, are engaged in mop-up efforts on the east side of 457 Road and setting up a structural protection unit (large sprinkler) on Norlake Lodge. Structural protection is also in place on the Babine Steelhead Lodge in the same area.
• An area restriction order is in effect for this wildfire, and both of these lodges are currently on an evacuation alert.
• Information about the evacuation alert is available online at: http://www.rdbn.bc.ca/ 
• Information about the area restriction order is available online at:  http://ow.ly/ZRav30lmRkG

Recent wind activity in the Cassiar Fire Zone has caused fires in that zone to become more active. The BC Wildfire Service will be monitoring fires in the vicinity of Lower Post for any further growth. There is currently no evacuation alert or evacuation order in place for the community of Lower Post.

Lutz Creek fire

• The Lutz Creek fire (R92033) is about 11 kilometres southwest of Lower Post (about 200 kilometres northeast of Dease Lake) and covers about 100 hectares. The BC Wildfire Service has deployed firefighters to the Lutz Creek fire to assess its size and assess fire behaviour. This fire is being monitored daily during peak burning hours.

Blue River fire

• The Blue River fire (R91647) is located about 15 kilometres southwest of Lower Post, and covers about 7,400 hectares. This fire is creating a large amount of smoke that is visible from nearby communities. This fire is being monitored by the BC Wildfire Service.

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, go to: http://www.bcwildfire.ca

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