How northeast B.C. residents are weathering the wildfires, helping their community

Even as favourable conditions meant some wildfire-related evacuation orders were lifted Wednesday, oppressive wildfire smoke and blazes will be a reality for a while yet in northeast B.C.

More than 1,300 properties are on evacuation order in the Peace River Regional District due to the Stoddart Creek and Red Creek fires northwest of Fort St. John, as well as the Donnie Creek fire further north of the city.

The B.C. Wildfire Service says the next 48 hours will be crucial to their mitigation efforts in the area, as hot conditions return after a temporary reprieve.

CBC News spoke with people in and around the area to find out how they are dealing with the early-season blazes.

Y.C. Kim is providing an essential service as fires rage around the tiny community of Wonowon: he runs the only gas station and food provider in the entire village.

The Petro Canada gas station remains running, despite a power outage in the area that has meant the entire operation is working off a generator.

"I'm glad that we are able to serve the community with fuel," Kim told Carolina de Ryk, host of CBC's Daybreak North. "There are dozens of fire trucks that came from all over the province. I see trucks with signs that say Comox, Salt Spring, Gibsons — they come from all over the province."

Kim's gas station normally employs around 10 people, but many of his staff members have had to evacuate due to the fires. Only four people are currently there, and Kim says he's sleep-deprived.

He has family in Vancouver and says he was supposed to fly there Wednesday morning. But for now, he says he's staying put.

"I have to help the community," he said. "I'm just praying for the … fuel delivery will happen in the next few days, so that we can keep helping these firefighting crew."

Toni Chittim, who lives with her husband and three children on a property 40 kilometres north of Fort St. John in Shepherd's Inn, says a blaze got so close to their home on Monday that flames were visible as they drove away.

"The embers from the trees were going into our yard," she said in an interview from a hotel in Fort St. John, as her home remains off-limits in the evacuation zone.

"That was a scary point."

Chittim's house was unscathed by the fire, as were five horses on the property.