B.C. fire crews brace for windy weekend, potentially worsening conditions

• Evacuation alerts and orders fromEmergency Info BC
• Road closures and conditions fromDriveBC
• Wildfires of note fromB.C. Wildfire Service
• Air quality advisories fromEnvironment Canada

With gusty winds in the weather forecast, the weekend could be a tough one for fire crews battling the many wildfires burning across B.C.'s Interior.

Although Friday sawnew evacuation alerts and a new evacuation order, officials in British Columbia'sCariboo regionsavoureda relativelycalmday.

"Mother Nature cooperated again and the firefighters were able to get some work done," CaribooRegional District chair Al Richmond said. "The wind is potentially a concern."

Richmond said regional officials are dealing with a host of new issues caused by the fires, such as disrupted garbage pickup, a lack of supplies in smaller stores and disconnected power in some communities.

Williams Lake Mayor Walt Cobb whose city of about 11,000 remains under an evacuation alert says while the weather has been calm,the city's emergency centre has been busy.

"We've been getting all the logistics tied up as far as evacuation routes and bus lineups, whatever we need in case we have to go to evacuation," he said. "We've got it as much in control as we can."

Officials have set upfamily reunification services in Williams Lake and a centre for stranded travellers in the Lower Mainland at the Cloverdale arena.

The province also closedfour lakes needed for water bombing.

Nearly 16,000 displaced

The current spread of fires around 167in totaltook hold last Friday after a wind and lightning system sparked a spate of new blazes across the region.

• B.C. wildfires: frequently asked questions

A week later, the province is still under a state of emergency, withnearly 16,000 people displaced from their homesand thousands moreunder evacuation alert.

Chief fire information officer Kevin Skrepneksaid his No. 1 priority now is Saturday afternoon, when a cold front is expected to swing across B.C. and could bring significant winds.

"We're keeping a very close eye on this moving front," he said. "We're expecting [wind] right across southern B.C."

In a special statement, Environment Canada said widespread winds of 20 to 50 kilometres per hour are expected and will push into the Kootenays by early Sunday. In some Interior valleys and canyons, winds could reach up to 70 kilometres per hour.

Meteorologist Matt MacDonald calls the system a "dry" cold front, which could create lightning but no rain. He saysrain for B.C.'s Interior isn't expected until at least next Thursday or Friday.

Wind can spread wildfires further by liftingsparks out of previously contained zones into new ones. It can also increase the size of already-burning wildfires by increasing the flow ofoxygen.

• 'It could get much, much worse'

Preparations underway

Fire crews are working hard to prepare before the expected wind storm hits on the weekend.

Skrepnek said crews have conducted some significant controlled burning around WilliamsLake and 100 Mile House to turn off any lingeringfuel supply.

Centres across the provinceare also preparing for a greater influx of new evacuees.

The emergency social services centre in Kelowna issecuring 500 extra beds in preparation for the weekend. Vernon istaking a look at its inventoryin anticipation of the weekend.

Prime MinisterJustinTrudeauannounced Friday the creation of a new ad hoc federal cabinet committee focused onthe B.C. wildfires. Defence MinisterHarjitSajjan, one of the committee's members, says it will group all the relevant ministers who can provide support for the province in one convenientarea.

Since April, wildfires have destroyed 111,000 hectares in B.C. and the province has spent $66.6 million on direct fire costs.

Good news

Though the relief of rain did not come during the week, crews did make breakthroughs in some areas of the province.

There have been no major new fires over the last 24 hours, according to Skrepnek, and the evacuation alert issued for properties near NaltesbyLake, an area southwest of Prince George, was rescinded yesterday.

Amidst reports of looters and scammers, thousands across the province and country have arrived to fight firesor help with emergency efforts.

Prince George, for example, has welcomed more than 6,200 evacueessince the emergencybegan. And more than 1,800volunteers in the city have signed up to help at evacuation centres, with many others opening their homes and gathering donations.

"We just have to do what we can to help," saidvolunteer Keith Kerrigan.

• B.C. wildfires: What you can do to help

Evacuees wait anxiously

As the fires rage on, fatigue is setting in for some of the evacuees who have been out of their homes for almost a week now especially since there is no clear end in sight.

At the Kamloops evacuation centre, some evacuees saidthey wereworried about what the situation is like back home. But they said they trusted fire personnel to do their best to protect homes and properties.

Percy Minnavarriet, an evacuee from Ashcroft, is meditative.

"I think there has been a lot of patience, because I think a lot of people realize the scope of the danger that is back there now. It's Mother Nature ... what do you do."

• See our interactive map of the wildfireshere