Cooler temperatures, rain forecast in area of B.C. hit by wildfires

KAMLOOPS, B.C. – Environment Canada forecasts show badly needed rain is on the way for northeastern British Columbia.

Up to 15 millimetres of rain is expected Thursday in the parched area, with temperatures no higher than 5 C, well below the normal high of 17 C for this time of year.

The Siphon Creek fire northeast of Fort St. John has charred 754-square kilometres, including nearly 200-square kilometres of bush in Alberta.

Officials say B.C. firefighters chased the flames across the provincial boundary to give weary Alberta crews more time to focus on the devastating Fort McMurray fire.

Prince George Fire Centre spokeswoman Amanda Reynolds says another significant blaze around Fort St. John was mainly static on Tuesday.

The 150-square kilometre Beatton Airport Road fire, about 45 kilometres north of Fort St. John, is considered 45 per cent contained, although an evacuation order remains in effect.

“There wasn’t any significant growth on fires in the Peace (region), but there was some growth on the Siphon Creek fire (Tuesday),” says Reynolds. “But with the change in the weather coming (Thursday) we are hoping that will stop.”

The huge blaze straddling the B.C.-Alberta boundary is estimated at 25 per cent contained.

More than 60 wildfires were burning Wednesday in British Columbia, about two-thirds of them in the northeast. (The Canadian Press, CHNL)