Helicopters battling new ‘highly visible’ wildfire burning out of control in northern B.C.

A new wildfire is burning out of control near Chetwynd, B.C., prompting a warning from the provincial wildfire service.

A new wildfire is burning out of control in northern British Columbia, fueled by strong winds and dry conditions that have prompted the provincial wildfire service to warn of potentially rapid expansion.

The Windy Creek wildfire was discovered approximately 30 kilometres northeast of Chetwynd on Monday and grew “rapidly upon ignition” to cover 40 hectares by the evening, the B.C. Wildfire Service said in update overnight.

The agency says four helicopters are battling the blaze from the sky, along with air tankers that are dropping water and fire retardant.

• Related: Latest updates on the B.C. wildfire season

Ground crews and heavy equipment are also on site, with additional support requested as crews are working to create access routes to the fire site and to secure a water source to fight the fire.

The wildfire service the fire has potential to growth northward under the present environmental conditions.

The Windy Creek wildfire is believed to have been caused by human activity.

The wildfire service says the blaze is “highly visible” from Chetwynd and the community of Hudson’s Hope in the Peace River region.

There were 22 active wildfires burning in B.C. on Tuesday morning, including seven sparked within the last day, according to the B.C. Wildfire Service.

Six of those active fires are considered out of control, six are being held and 10 are under control.

RELATED STORIES:

• B.C. invests $1 million in ‘lightning reduction’ technology in bid to reduce fires
• Fire ban comes into effect for coastal B.C. amid rising ‘risk indices’
• Inside B.C.’s wildfire boot camp, where recruits train for the front lines