Battleship Mountain wildfire doused by rain overnight

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Battleship Mountain wildfire. B.C. Wildfire Service says planned ignition operations took place on the southwest edge, near the Johnson Creek FSR on Sept. 15, 2022. (B.C. Wildfire Service)

UPDATE: 4:35 p.m.

An evacuation order for British Columbia's largest wildfire has been rescinded, though the BC Wildfire Service says the blaze remains out of control.

The Battleship Mountain wildfire in the Prince George Fire Centre is now estimated at more than 302 square kilometres.

The fire in the northeast corner of the province led to an evacuation order for about 1,000 residents on Sept. 10, but the District of Hudson's Hope says that has been lifted.

The BC Wildfire Service says the blaze about 50 kilometres west of Hudson's Hope was caused by lightning on Aug. 30.

It is one of the two remaining blazes classified as wildfires of note on the service's website.

But it is reporting the Bearhole Lake fire, which is also located in the Prince George region, will be downgraded Sunday as cooler temperatures and rain continue to dampen the fire's activity.

– The Canadian Press

ORIGINAL: 10:45 a.m.

Good news this morning from the fire fight at Battleship Mountain.

BC Wildfire Service reports most areas of the wildfire have received upwards of 10 mm of rain since Friday, and with some areas reporting nearly 20 mm.

Rain is expected to continue until noon, with another five to 10 mm forecast, according to BCWS.

That will be accompanied by cool daytime temps from 8 to 10 degrees, and northwest winds gusting up to 40 kilometres.

“Though the precipitation helps cool fire activity, the fire continues to smolder in heavier fuels,” the wildfire service said in an update. “Surface fires displaying rank one fire behaviour are expected today.”

Hudson's Hope remains under evacuation order.

Here is today’s operational update from BCWS:

• Decreased temperatures, higher humidity and rainfall have reduced fire activity on the Battleship Mountain wildfire.
• In the last 24 hours, between 10 and 20 mm of rain has been received on various sections of the fire.
• Precipitation continues to be received and is expected to last into this afternoon.
• The unit crew working on the west flank is nearly finished securing the guard on the fire's western heel.
• Three unit crews continue working on fuel free and patrol operations on the southwest flank.
• The contingency line on the south flank should be completed by end of day today.
• The contingency line on the west side of Wright Lake is complete.
• On the northeast flank, three unit crews have begun assessing and removing patchy fuels, and mopping up and extinguishing hot spots.
• Due to low lying cloud, there was no visibility for helicopters to support operations yesterday.
• Opportunities for air support will be dependent on conditions today.
• With the downturn in weather, structure protection equipment has begun to be demobilized.