FORT NELSON -- A holdover fire reignited by lightening is burning of control near Fort Nelson.
The Nogah Creek wildfire is burning in a forested area 60 kilometres east of Fort Nelson.
It was discovered on May 5th and is currently listed at 500 hectares in size.
The wildfire started when lightening hit a hotspot on the northern flank of the holdover fire sparked last year, causing 74,685 hectares to be burnt before being brought under control.
A holdover fire is defined by the Prince George Fire Centre as a fire that is ‘left over’ from the previous season.
“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 Fire Centre in a statement.
The Prince George Fire Centre adds that it is common for hotspots to slowly burn or smoulder under snow throughout the winter and re-emerge in the spring under drier conditions.
The Fort Nelson Fire Zone has been conducting patrols of holdover fires to identify hotspots.
The fire currently poses no threat to residents or structures, however, warmer temperatures and westerly to south-westerly winds gusting up to 40 kilometres an hour have the Fire Centre suggesting there is a good chance the behaviour of the fire could change and prompt crews to reassess their suppression efforts.
The Prince George Fire Centre continues to actively monitor the fire.
Crews are in the area battling other higher priority fires, according to the Fire Centre.
An incident management team is headed to Fort Nelson to survey the Nogah Creek wildfire and other holdover fires in the area.
