All evacuation orders lifted in northeastern B.C. as rain dampens wildfire threat

All evacuation orders related to wildfires in northeastern British Columbia have now been lifted or downgraded to evacuation alerts as heavy rain eases the fire danger.

The Peace River Regional District has cancelled orders issued last week affecting properties threatened by the Stoddart Creek fire northeast of Fort St. John.

Officials made the announcement Monday evening, as they also lifted an evacuation order covering properties around the estimated 13,000-square-kilometre Donnie Creek fire southeast of Fort Nelson.

As of Tuesday morning there are 87 active wildfires listed by the B.C. Wildfire Service, down from more than 90 over the weekend.

There are now just three wildfires of note — fires that are highly visible or could pose a risk to property — listed, down from five on Saturday. Just one, the Donnie Creek blaze, is listed as out of control, as both Stoddart Creek and Red Creek fires are being held.

More rain expected

Evacuation alerts still cover more than 500 properties in northeastern B.C., but rainfall warnings are now posted for a large part of that region and Environment Canada says up to 100 millimetres is expected to fall before the system eases.

The River Forecast Centre has posted flood watches for much of east-central B.C., from the Peace River area to the Kootenay, Boundary and Okanagan areas.

It says extremely warm conditions over the last week have speeded snowmelt, swelling rivers and leaving them vulnerable to added rainfall and the potential for flooding or debris flows.