Holdover fires and continued response in the Fort Nelson Zone



The BC Wildfire Service and Prince George Fire Centre are aware that some holdover fires from the 2024 season are now, in some areas, smouldering and producing visible smoke. This is expected on fires of considerable size or in areas experiencing ongoing drought conditions.

Depending on the fire’s size and location, response may look different from fire to fire, as every wildfire is unique. The BC Wildfire Service selects response types and attack methods based on fire behaviour, potential risks and environmental factors. These may include, but are not limited to, ground and air patrols, thermal imaging scans and the use of heavy equipment.

Ground and air patrols may be conducted to look for smoke and/or heat. Ground patrols focus on identifying smoke plumes, and can be completed by staff from areas with good visibility of the area of concern. Air patrols also look for smoke plumes, but can use thermal imaging to locate heat signatures as well.

Winter Response

Personnel are currently monitoring existing fires as conditions allow and have prioritized response objectives. These personnel have also met with local government and interest groups to discuss holdover response in the region and address community concerns.

This February, 2025, local fire zone personnel and additional personnel from the Prince George Fire Centre have conducted patrol flights encompassing the following areas:

  • Fort Nelson community and outlying area
  • Highway 77 corridor and Nelson Forks area
  • Snake River
  • Komie Creek

Based on the information gathered during these flights, an action plan has been developed, and heavy equipment and personnel have been deployed to start gaining access to priority areas which will be followed up with wildfire suppression activities.

As additional holdover fires are identified, appropriate actions will be taken when and where it is necessary to prevent further wildfire spread and to protect values which may be threatened.

The map below shows fires that may still remain active within the Prince George Fire Centre. The green dots indicate Wildfires that are Under Control and not projected to spread beyond the current perimeter.

BC Wildfire Service: Wildfire situation map
Refreshed every 15 minutes

About Holdover Fires

A holdover fire is a fire that remains dormant and/or undetected for a considerable time after it starts. This is particularly common for lightning-caused fires, fires of considerable size, and fires that are in areas with dry Duff Moisture Codes (DMC) and Drought Codes (DC) which are indicators of the dryness of fuels in the duff layer or approximately 7 cm deep and deeper.

It is possible for large fires to move deep underground and “slumber” undetected for a period of time. Heat can simmer underground for days, weeks, or even months and, then as the weather dries out and temperatures rise, these fires can flare up.

When a holdover fire resurfaces, it is usually contained to a very small part of the previous season’s fire perimeter and early season focus is on detection of these spots and suppression in areas along the edges of perimeters. As we move into the summer months, BC Wildfire will continue to monitor known holdover fires and prepare for the potential impacts of drought conditions in the regions that saw larger fires in the previous season.

Several factors influence the likelihood and occurrence of holdover fires. A major one is the Drought Code, which is the average moisture content of deep, compact fuels. When these fuels are exceptionally dry, wildfires will smoulder in the deep duff layers and within large logs, remaining active underground, even under snow cover, and have the potential of resurfacing come spring when areas are snow free.

Watch the video below for more information about holdover fires and how BC Wildfire Service responds to this type of fire.

Drought Conditions

Drought conditions are a major contributor for fires to holdover through the winter. Over the past 3 years, much of B.C. (most notably in the northeast of the province) has endured a rainfall deficit of only 40-60% of normal between September 2023 and September 2024. Additionally, drought conditions in the Prince George Fire Centre have steadily increased from May through September 2024.

The Drought Code is a numeric rating of the average moisture content of deep, compact organic layers. This code is part of the Fire Weather Index System and is a useful indicator of the effects of seasonal drought on forest fuels and the amount of smouldering that may occur in deep duff layers and within large logs.

In B.C., we also use a six-level drought classification to explain the severity and appropriate level of response to drought conditions. Maps of the drought level are available through the B.C. Drought Information Portal.

Watch the video below for more information about the impact of drought in the northeast of the province.

Snow Conditions and Water Supply Bulletin (BC Snow Basin Indices)

Snow also creates a challenge for observing and accessing fires. Heat detection is very difficult through the snow and the frozen ground above the deeper burning layer can impact the ability for moisture to penetrate deep into the ground where we need it.

In collaboration with the British Columbia Snow Survey Program, the River Forecast Centre analyzes snow pack, assesses seasonal water supply and flood risk, and predicts flows in B.C.’s rivers and streams. These bulletins (Snow Survey) provide an analysis of current snow conditions at automated snow weather stations and manual snow survey sites.

The February 1, 2025, Snow Survey reported that “overall, the provincial snowpack is below normal for February 1” but notes that the Liard station is reporting 108% of normal (+41 percentile point change from February 1, 2024). While the survey also notes that there are still 2-3 months left in the snow season, and that conditions may change slightly over this period. With the current trends in low snowpack, the long term drought conditions will persist.

At this time last year, the average snowpack across the province was 61% of normal. This year’s current totals are higher compared to 2024 (72% of normal provincially) with snow basin indices reporting higher than this time last year. It is important to note that regional variation in snowpack can be expected.

Current and historical data and reports can be found online.

Report Wildfires:

If you believe you have encountered a new wildfire, unattended campfire or open burning violation, please call 1-800-663-5555 or *5555 from a cellphone or report through the BC Wildfire Service mobile app.

For residents and/or travelers that are in the vicinity of a holdover fire (or other incident) and have additional concerns, the BC Wildfire Service asks that you make a report by calling 1-800-663-5555 toll-free or *5555 on a cellphone, or directly through the BC Wildfire Service mobile app.

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Contact:

Fire Information Team
Prince George Fire Centre
BC Wildfire Service
250-561-4629
INFOPG@gov.bc.ca