By Vanessa Ybarra

Plateau fire new name for combined Cariboo fires

Aug 20, 2017 | 2:25 PM

CARIBOO, B.C. — The Plateau wildfire is now the largest in the province.

Chief Fire Information Officer Kevin Skrepnek says a cluster of wildfires burning in the western part of the Cariboo region north of Highway 20 joined together over the weekend.

The combined fires are now being referred to as the Plateau fire.

Many of the fires, burning since July 7th, were previously listed as Chezacut, Tautri, Bishop’s Bluff, Baezaeko, Wentworth Creek, Arc Mountain, and others.

The Plateau fire now measures 438-thousand hecatares in size making it the largest in B.C.

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Skrepnek says 500 firefighters, 24 helicopters and 115 pieces of heavy equipment are being used to combat the giant inferno.

The Hanceville-Riske Creek wildfire, formerly the largest wildfire in the province, remains at 227-thousand hectares in size and is 25-per cent contained.

Skrepnek says crews managed to make steady progress on the fire over the weekend.

The Elephant Hill wildfire remains at 168-thousand hectares in size and is 25 per cent contained.

Close to 550 firefighters and 16 helicopters are fighting the blaze.