BC firefighters in Alberta dealing with blaze that jumped the border
Posted May 6, 2016 11:12 am.
This article is more than 5 years old.
FORT ST. JOHN (NEWS 1130) – A fire in the northeastern part of BC has now spread to Alberta and firefighters from our province are now on both sides of the border trying to contain it.
It’s believed to be more than 9,000 hectares in size and there are 70 firefighters on each side battling the Siphon Creek blaze.
Aerial footage of Siphon Creek #BCwildfire from May 3. For latest updates: https://t.co/dKUCKyP8J2 pic.twitter.com/nXqdCvhW4s
— BC Wildfire Service (@BCGovFireInfo) May 4, 2016
Fire Information Officer Emily Epp says BC crews don’t typically follow a wildfire that crosses the border, but this will allow Alberta to focus on its main priority in Fort McMurray. “The BC Wildfire Service is committed to fighting the wildfire on both sides of the border. We’re doing our best to relieve the pressure on Alberta’s resources.”
“Thursday was a warm and windy day and we are expecting a similar day today, so this could potentially cause some challenges to fire activity again today.”
Elsewhere, the Peace River Regional District is under a state of emergency due to a separate 10,000 hectare fire northwest of Fort St. John, which has forced a number of evacuations.
