B.C. wildfire evacuation notice issued for Peace River area

A fireevacuation order has been issued in B.C. for the gas field areas of Red Deer Creek, Ojay and Grizzly south, located southeast of Tumbler Ridge.

Around 200 people based at two oil and gas work camps in the area have been told to leave, but officials say the firewhich was triggered by lightning is not near any homes.

Hot dry winds are expected to fuel the blaze, Jill Kelsh, fire information officer with the B.C. Wildfire Management Branch, told CBC News Tuesday afternoon.

"It's very active at this time," Kelsh said. "The last estimated size was about 650 hectares. We do expect it to grow or potentially double in size over the next 24 hours."

Since the CBC spoke to Kelsh, the fire has more than doubled in size, and as of Tuesday evening was estimated to be about1,700 hectares.

The Peace River Regional District made the evacuation order Tuesday, specifically for the area directly south of the Wapiti River, as far west as Wapiti Provincial Park to the most southernmost boundary of the park and directly east to the Alberta border.

• On mobile? Click here for a Google map of the area affected

The order instructs anyone in the area to leave immediately, close gates latch, but do not lock them and take all personal items with them.

More than 70 wildfire management personnel are battling the fire, with ground crews being assisted by helicopters and airtankers.

More information can be found at the Peace River Regional District website.