Access restricted around B.C. wildfire as crews mop up, cooler weather expected

VANCOUVER – Access around a wildfire in northeastern B.C. has been further restricted even though officials say cooler temperatures are expected to help ease the danger.

The Mount McAllister fire has been burning west of Chetwynd since July and has now reached almost 260 square kilometres in size.

The Wildfire Management Branch says no structures or communities are being threatened, but a restriction on access has been expanded to include six nearby areas as a safety precaution.

The branch says crews are working to prevent the fire from crossing into Dinosaur Lake near the community of Hudson’s Hope and putting out hot spots in the southern sections of the blaze.

Earlier in the summer, more than 1,000 residents were forced to leave Hudson’s Hope, where several areas remain on evacuation alert.

The province has spent $183 million this season fighting wildfires, almost three times the budgeted amount.