Photo: Contributed - Northern Rockies Regional Municipality

The Prophet River fire is now estimated to cover 700 hectares, according to Jordan Turner, Fire Information Officer for the Wildfire Management Branch. Turner said the fire has "grown very quickly since yesterday." The fire is now roughly 14 kilometres away from the community of Prophet River.

Fire season has fully kicked off this week in northern B.C., as five new wildfires started in the Prince George area yesterday afternoon.

The largest of these new fires covers 250 hectares near the community of Prophet River, approximately 80 kilometres south of Fort Nelson. It was started yesterday in the late afternoon by a lightning strike, and is currently contained within the Klua Lakes Protected Area, 15 kilometres east of Prophet River.

An evacuation alert has be issued for the community of Prophet River and surrounding areas. The alert means residents should prepare for a possible evacuation.

Erin Lavale, emergency coordinator for the Northern Rockies Regional Municipality, said that while there are some cabins in the Klua Lakes Protected Area, the fire has not yet reached any.

Other new fires in the area include a six-hectare fire southwest of Miworth and and a 1.5 hectare fire south of Mackenzie.

Airtankers, helicopters and ground crews are currently responding to these fires, according to the B.C. Wildfire Management Branch

The Little Bobtail Lake wildfire south of Prince George has been burning since May 9, and is currently estimated to be 25,000 hectares.

The current fire danger rating in the Prince George Fire Centre is high, with large areas rated extreme. This is due to a long period of high temperatures and low precipitation in the area. As of May 13, category two and three fires are banned in the area, which include larger open fires, grass fires, and the burning of waste.

Open fires under one half-metre tall and one half-metre wide are still allowed in the area.

An interactive map of all fires burning in B.C. can be found on the B.C. Wildfire Management Branch website.

To report a wildfire, call 1-800-663-5555.