FORT NELSON -- An incident managment team will arrive in Fort Nelson this week to survey the Nogah Creek wildfire and other holdover fires in the area.

The Nogah Creek wildfire was sparked by lightning and is still burning burning out of control 60 kilometres east of Fort Nelson.

It was discovered Sunday and is currently 500 hectares in size.

“Typically, these fires are quite sizeable and burned with high intensity, and although they were brought under control, not all remaining hotspots inside the fire perimeter were extinguished by snowfall, and therefore the fire could not be called ‘out’,” said the Prince George Fire Centre in a statement.

It's burning on the north flank of an existing fire listed as a holdover from last year that saw close to 74,685 hectares of forest burnt before being brought under control, according to the Prince George Fire Centre.

The Fort Nelson Fire Zone has also been conducting patrols of holdover fires to identify hotspots.

“Crews are in the surrounding areas but are on other targets with higher priorities,” added the Fire Centre.

The fire danger rating around Fort Nelson is currently listed as extreme, meaning the risk of fires starting is high and challenges may be presented during supression efforts. 

According the BC Wildfire Service, there are currently 50 holdover fires located across Northeast B.C.

Hotspots have sparked two new fires, including the Nogah Creek fire that are currently burning out of control.

A dry lightening strike also sparked a half-hectare fire on the Patry Creek holdover fire on May 2nd, 2024.