Three months almost to the day after being discovered, the Peavine Creek wildfire has been declared out.
The Peavine Creek was discovered June 6, the same day the West Kiskatinaw fire was discovered, and advanced on Kelly Lake, forcing that community to be evacuated for the second time in as many years.
It also forced the evacuation of One Island Lake and shut down Highway 52.
It never reached the same size as the West Kiskatinaw fire, growing to 4,427 ha, compared to 25,095 ha, but was treated as part of the same complex, with wildfire crews responding to both fires at the same time. It was declared held as of July 2.
Cooler, wetter weather over the last month has meant that little fire behaviour has been observed and it was officially declared out on September 4.
The West Kiskatinaw fire, while also exhibiting little fire behaviour, is still considered an active fire, though it is now considered under control.
Wildfires can get into peat and burn underground for months, even over-wintering before starting up again the next year, and BC Wildfire is not convinced that the fire is completely out.
Last year’s Bearhole Lake fire wasn’t declared out until well into this spring.
There is one new fire burning in the Tumbler Ridge area, a 0.2 ha fire started by lightning northeast of Gwillim Lake, though still in the provincial park.
While air quality has been poor recently, that is caused by smoke blowing in from fires far south and mostly west of town, in the Vanderhoof region. The forecast is for periods of smoke over the next few days.
Trent is the publisher of Tumbler RidgeLines.