There seems to be a small flash of hope in the fight against two major wildfires in B.C.
Crews were able to carry out a controlled burn on Saturday for the Shovel Lake wildfire, as weather conditions finally calmed down enough to allow crews to burn off fuel ahead of it.
Crews hope to carry the same strategy near Kimberley in an effort to contain the 6,996-hectare Meachen Creek fire, which has put thousands of residents on evacuation alert.
On Sunday, Kimberley Mayor Don McCormick said evacuation alerts were delivered to 4,500 residences. RCMP have a list of residents who need special assistance in case an evacuation order is implemented.
Officials say wind near the fire may blow some smoke away from Kimberley.
Still, Kevin Skrepnek of the B.C. Wildfire Service says there are “fires of note really from one corner of the province literally to the other,” which will remain active for a while.
WATCH: Time-lapse video shows smoke turn day to night in Fort St. James
A pair of wildfires in Central Kootenay has prompted officials to issue an evacuation alert for parts of the region.
The Syringa Creek and Deer Creek blazes forced officials to send out a warning Saturday night for all of the Syringa Provincial Park and areas near Deer Park. The alert for Syringa Provincial Park covers a large area, including 26 properties and a campground with around 100 sites. The Deer Park warning covers 77 properties.
Both blazes are among the 56 wildfires of note in B.C.
WATCH: High winds prompts evacuation alert in Kimberley
An evacuation order has been issued for a remote area of Vancouver Island because of the Gold Valley Main wildfire.
Residents of six properties in the village of Zeballos on the northwest coast of the island have been ordered out. The 90-hectare fire is burning right next to the community. The village says the main concern is the risk of falling debris.
On Saturday, the Regional District of the Okanagan-Similkameen expanded an evacuation alert around the backcountry Cool Creek wildfire, which is burning out of control in the Southern Interior.
Elsewhere, an evacuation alert has been lifted for the Gottfriedsen Mountain fire burning near West Kelowna.
Officials say the flames no longer pose a threat to life and properties in the area. The alert was issued earlier this month, covering properties, campgrounds, and four lakes north of Highway 97C.
Smoky skies forced the cancellation of the Apple Triathlon in Kelowna.
Smoke from wildfires has prompted air quality advisories for much of B.C., Alberta, Saskatchewan and Manitoba, although Environment Canada had dropped Prince George, B.C., from “Very High” to “Moderate Risk” as of Saturday afternoon.
— With files from Doyle Potenteau and The Canadian Press
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