A fire burning 50 kilometres northwest of Fort St. John is causing more residents to flee their homes.
The Beatton Airport Road fire, which is an estimated 10,000 hectares in size, combined with another fire Thursday night.
It has crossed the Alaska Highway and is burning on the west side, although the highway has since reopened.
There are over 100 firefighters working on the blaze, along with five helicopters.
The fire is 85 per cent contained.
The Peace River Regional District issued an Evacuation Order for the Mile 80 on the Alaska Highway and Shepherds Inn areas.
Photo Credit: BC Wildfire Service.
They have also revised the Evacuation Alert for the Beatton Airport Road area to include:
- Red Creek Road
- 254 Road from the Alaska Highway east to the 281 Road
- 289 Road, 287 Road, 285 Road, 283 Road and 281 Road all north from the 254 Road
- 256 Road from 281 Road to Prespatou Road
- North on the Prespatou Road from 256 Road south west along the Blueberry River, crossing the Beatton Airport
- Road, to the junction of the Aitken Creek Road, south along Aitken Creek Road to Alaska Highway
- Following Red Creek south adjacent to the Alaska Highway to Red Creek Road including a portion of the Lower Cache Road
- 260 Road off the Alaska Highway, and 260 Road west of the Prespatou Road
- Beatton Airport Road to the Blueberry River
- 272 Road of the Prespatou Road
- 277 Road off 272 Road
- 277 Road north off the 256 Road
- 279 Road between the 262 Road and 264 Road
- 264 Road, 260 Road, 258 Road all west of the Prespatou Road
According to the Peace River Regional District, residents are in immediate danger and must evacuate while crews are working to establish control lines with heavy equipment and air support.
