wildfire breaks out north east of Fraser Valley

A wildfire broke out Thursday northeast of the Fraser Valley near Agassiz, B.C.

The BC Wildfire Service says the Skarleth Lake wildfire is about 1.3 hectares in size and located about 12 kilometres from the Mount Woodside area.

Service information officer Christi Howe tells 1130 NewsRadio that the fire is under control and classified as “being held.”

“Being held essentially means it’s contained, and we don’t anticipate the fire growing,” Howe explained.

She said two initial attack crews, totalling seven members, tackled the fire to bring it under control.

Howe says the cause of the fire is under investigation but is believed to be human-caused.

The BC Wildfire Service says all Category 2 and 3 fires will be prohibited from 12 p.m. on Friday, May 30, until Oct. 31, in an effort to help “reduce human-caused wildfires” and for public safety.

“We just ask that people be responsible with campfires. Never leave them unattended. Keep them small — so under a half-meter by half-meter. And put them out fully before leaving,” said Howe.