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Maxan Lake fire under control

One of the largest to break out in the Lakes District and beyond
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BC Wildfire Service crews have the upper hand fighting fires in the area. But high winds expected this week have officials urging caution when out and about in the forest. BC Wildfire Service photo

BC Wildfire Service crews have contained the Maxan Lake fire burning west of Burns Lake.

And mopping up continues on this fire and others as crews deal with a number of fires in the region sparked by lightning last week.

“The Maxan Lake fire is still about 94 hectares in size and we have 33 personnel on the ground and it is under control,” reports fire information Carlee Kachman from the Northwest Fire Centre in Smithers.

“Ths fire has received sufficient suppression activities to ensure there’s no spread,” she added.

Air support was used last week to fight the blaze but is no longer needed.

Cooler weather from the weekend has also helped crews, Kachman said.

The area experienced 36 new fire starts since June 20, 2018 with 12 now considered out and the rest either under control, being held or being addressed based on a priority sequence.

“No fires are posing a threat to communities at this time, and no evacuation alerts or orders are being considered,” Kachman said.

Still, people are being urged to use extreme caution as winds are set to increase in the region as the week moves on.

“With so many lightning-caused fires tying up the BC Wildfire Service resources, crews should not be diverted to preventable human-caused fires,” Kachman said.

More than 240 wildfires have started across B.C. since last Wednesday, the vast majority of which resulted from an intense lightning system that hit most parts of the province.