While the country remains transfixed by the devastating wildfire that razed parts of Fort McMurray, the B.C. Wildfire Service is dealing with 55 wildfires in the Prince George Fire Centre. Of those, 49 are in the Peace Region in northeastern B.C.

According to a B.C. government news release, there are "seven wildfires of note", including the Beatton Airport Road wildfire.

The 12,000-hectare blaze is 45 kilometres north of Fort St. John, which is the de facto capital of B.C.'s natural-gas industry.

On Thursday (May 6), the Peace River District issued an evacuation order for 45 homes in the Mile 80 area of the Alaska Highway, not far from Fort St. John.

Meanwhile, the 24,000-hectare Siphon Creek wildfire is 40 kilometres northeast of Fort St. John. The government news release stated that it has crossed the Alberta boder.

It's hoped that showers this weekend will help with fire-suppression efforts.

Meanwhile, fire officials are concerned about reports of two unauthorized unmanned aerial vehicles, a.k.a drones, being spotted near wildfires.

"Going into fire season, the public is reminded that Transport Canada and the BC Wildfire Service explicitly prohibit the use of drones of any size near a wildfire," the news release stated.