DAWSON CREEK -- A Canadian Ranger living in Tumbler Ridge says she thinks the town is well-rehearsed in how to manage an evacuation alert as an encroaching wildfire threatens the community.

Joline Couture says the smoke was heavy in town but people were remaining calm as they started evacuating.

About 24-hundred people have been ordered out of the northeastern B-C community because of the nearby West Kiskatinaw River fire.

A B-C Wildfire Service advisory says the fire near Tumbler Ridge fire was caused by lightning and continues to spread aggressively

The evacuation order, which was sent out using the province's emergency alert system, warns residents that the West Kiskatinaw River wildfire "poses a threat to human life."

Brandon Broderick, a Tumbler Ridge resident, said the evacuation order took him by surprise because there was no evacuation alert issued beforehand.

"So there was very little warning which we were kind of surprised about because the town seemed to know that the fire was heading our direction,” Broderick told CTV News.

He and his partner quickly packed up their two vehicles with their belongings, two dogs and three cats.

The blaze, sparked by lightning and discovered on Tuesday, is burning out of control and is estimated at 23,000 hectares.

Broderick, a photographer, went to check out the blaze on Tuesday afternoon and was startled by how quickly flames spread when he went back that night.

“It's just continued to grow since. It's very windy so it's just feeling it is extra dry this year,” he said. “Seeing the big huge plume of smoke growing behind the house was a pretty surreal experience.”

He estimates there was a bottleneck of 20 to 30 vehicles on their way to Chetwynd from Tumbler Ridge.

Evacuees are being told to go a reception centre in Chetwynd and Fort St. John. Hotels in Dawson Creek are at or near capacity.

According to the BC Wildfire Service, flames will be fanned due to easterly winds which are preventing firefighters from suppressing the blaze from the ground and air.

A shift to westerly winds is expected Saturday.

 

With files from CTV News Vancouver's Ian Holliday and Angela Jung and The Canadian Press