UPDATE: The story was updated Aug. 19, to reflect the status of the wildfires based on information provided by the BC Wildfire Service

Fire crews are responding to multiple wildfires in northwest B.C.

The Prince George Fire Centre is responding to a wildfire near Takla Lake which started yesterday evening (Aug.17) and spread across 5.50 hectares of land in the area. Nine BC Wildfire Service (BCWS) personnel, consisting of a parattack group (smokejumpers), initial attack, heavy equipment and one helicopter, are on scene. As of Aug. 19. BCWS reported the fire is 鈥榖eing held鈥�, which means that the wildfire is not likely to spread beyond it鈥檚 current boundaries under the current and forecasted weather conditions

The crews are making good progress and no infrastructure in the surrounding areas is currently at risk, said a BCWS spokesperson from the Prince George Fire Centre.

Meanwhile, south of Takla Lake, crews from the Northwest Fire Centre (NFC) continue to respond and monitor a fire that was discovered earlier this week, on Aug.12.near Tochcha Lake (located approximately 17 kilometres east of Granisle).

It is estimated at 60 hectares and has a status of 鈥榰nder control鈥檃s of Aug. 19, said NFC spokesperson Casda Thomas.

BCWS personnel completed infrared scanning with a drone and crews used this information to seek out and extinguish identified hot spots. There were 26 firefighters on site, Thomas added.

Meanwhile firefighters also responded to two brand new fires on Aug. 18, suspected to have been started by lightning. The one burning by Jollymore Rd. east of Smithers and north of Telkwa was a spot fire and was extinguished by a five-person initial attack crew.

The second one, Borden Lake FSR wildfire, is located approximately 1.5kms from Hwy 37 and 5kms northwest of the Cranberry Junction. It is estimated at one hectare and is currently listed as 鈥榖eing held鈥�.

鈥淎n Initial Attack Crew was dispatched, and upon arrival they observed a vigorous surface fire with moderate spread, burning in heavy timber. More ground crews were dispatched and personnel received bucketing support from one helicopter,鈥� said Thomas.

There were 21 firefighters on site and suppression efforts reduced fire behaviour to predominantly a smouldering ground fire with minimal spread.

takla being held.