Snow and rain expected to help in fight against huge northeastern B.C. wildfires

KAMLOOPS – A dramatic change in the weather in northeastern British Columbia is being celebrated by crews fighting several large wildfires.

Environment Canada posted a snowfall warning for the entire Peace River region, predicting at least 10 centimetres of snow will blanket the area around Fort St. John before turning to rain later today, May 20.

B.C. Wildfire Service information officer Kevin Skrepnek says "intense and significant" rainfall is expected to continue into the Victoria Day long weekend.

He says the should produce a dramatic downturn in fire activity that has charred hundreds of square kilometres of bush around Fort St. John.

The Siphon Creek blaze, which straddles the B.C./Alberta boundary northeast of Fort St. John, has burned 853-square kilometres and is considered 35 per cent contained, while the Beatton Airport Road fire covers 156-square kilometres and is 65 per cent contained.

All evacuation orders have been lifted around both fires but evacuation alerts remain in place.