A wildfire that has been burning for days in northern B.C. continued to spread Thursday.
The "aggressive, unpredictable" fire has doubled in size since it was spotted on May 9 because of dry, warm, and windy conditions, according to the provincial Wildfire Management Branch. It's now estimated to be 13,000 hectares.
The blaze has forced people out of their homes near Norman Lake, about 65 km southwest of Prince George, B.C. Two provincial parks have been forced to close as well.
Crews have been working around the clock to battle the blaze using six helicopters, four air tankers and 10 pieces of heavy equipment.
Gillene Gauthier, who lives in Prince George and owns a cabin at Norman Lake, says she and her neighbours are worried about their properties, which lie on the north side of the lake.
Gauthier captured these dramatic photos from the lakeside over the weekend:
Gillene Gauthier
Gillene Gauthier
Gillene Gauthier
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Gillene Gauthier
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With files from The Canadian Press
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B.C. Wildfires, July 2014
West Kelowna, July 19, 2014(01 of54)
Firefighters tackle a flare up at the Smith Creek fire. (credit:Jonathan Hayward/Canadian Press)
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Firefighters are seen walking through the forest at the Smith Creek fire. (credit:Jonathan Hayward/Canadian Press)
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Firefighter Jake Sparks gives a thumbs up after putting out a flare-up at the Smith Creek fire in West Kelowna, B.C., Saturday, July 19, 2014. Over 2,500 residents of the area were evacuated when the fire suddenly grew in size threatening nearby homes. (credit:Jonathan Hayward/Canadian Press)
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Fire crews from outside of B.C. arrive to help on July 20, 2014. (credit:B.C. Forest Fire Info/Facebook)
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Firefighters from New Brunswick are in B.C. to help exhausted fire crews. (credit:B.C. Forest Fire Info/Facebook)
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Firefighter support from Quebec arrive in B.C. (credit:B.C. Forest Fire Info/Facebook)
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Firefighting crew from Nova Scotia. (credit:B.C. Forest Fire Info/Facebook)
West Kelowna, July 18, 2014(10 of54)
People watch the Smith Creek fire on a hillside in West Kelowna, B.C. Friday, July 18, 2014. (credit:Jonathan Hayward/Canadian Press)
West Kelowna, July 18, 2014(11 of54)
(credit:Jonathan Hayward/CP)
West Kelowna, July 18, 2014(12 of54)
Evacuees Ronda and Paul Atkinson watch as smoke rises from near their home in Smith Creek, West Kelowna on July, 18, 2014. (credit:Jonathan Hayward/CP)
West Kelowna, July 18, 2014(13 of54)
(credit:Jonathan Hayward/CP)
West Kelowna, July 18, 2014(14 of54)
(credit:Jonathan Hayward/CP)
West Kelowna, July 18, 2014(15 of54)
(credit:Cassandra Probe)
West Kelowna, July 18, 2014(16 of54)
(credit:Jonathan Hayward/Canadian Press)
West Kelowna, July 18, 2014(17 of54)
Flames from a forest fire are seen burning on a hillside in West Kelowna on July, 18, 2014. Over 2,500 residents of the area were evacuated when the fire suddenly grew in size threatening nearby homes. (credit:Jonathan Hayward/Canadian Press)
West Kelowna, July 18, 2014(18 of54)
(credit:Jonathan Hayward/Canadian Press)
West Kelowna, July 18, 2014(19 of54)
(credit:Jonathan Hayward/Canadian Press)
West Kelowna, July 18, 2014(20 of54)
A water bomber drops water on a hillside in West Kelowna on July, 18, 2014. (credit:Jonathan Hayward/Canadian Press)
West Kelowna, July 18, 2014(21 of54)
(credit:Jonathan Hayward/Canadian Press)
West Kelowna, July 17, 2014(22 of54)
A wildfire in West Kelowna broke out on July 17, 2014 and spread rapidly, prompting the evacuation of 1,100 homes. West Kelowna's mayor and council also declared a local state of emergency for its 31,000 residents. (credit:Castanet)
West Kelowna, July 17, 2014(23 of54)
(credit:Carolyn F./Castanet)
West Kelowna, July 17, 2014(24 of54)
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West Kelowna, July 17, 2014(25 of54)
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Mount McCallister, July 14, 2014(26 of54)
According to Premier Christy Clark, B.C. has had the driest conditions since 1958 and the province is spending $3.5 million a day to fight the wildfires. (credit:B.C. Wildfire Management Branch)
Mount McCallister, July 14, 2014(27 of54)
The Mount McAllister wildfire was caused by a lightning strike on July 13, 2014 mushroomed to 20,000 hectares, or 200 square kilometres, and prompted the evacuation of the town of Hudson's Hope, B.C. (credit:B.C. Wildfire Management Branch)
Mount McCallister, July 13, 2014(28 of54)
(credit:B.C. Wildfire Management Branch)
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Police man a roadblock on Highway 29, about 20 kilometres outside of Hudson's Hope, on July, 17, 2014. Police have closed the road into the town of 1,150 people after residents were ordered to evacuate due to the threat of the Mount McAllister wildfire burning just on the other side of the Peace River. (credit:Jonathan Hayward/CP)
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(credit:Jonathan Hayward/CP)
Maka-Murray, July 16(31 of54)
The Maka-Murray wildfire was burning in the Juliet Creek area, five kilometers west of the Coquihalla Highway. (credit:B.C. Wildfire Management Branch)
Euchiniko Lakes, July 9, 2014(32 of54)
(credit:B.C. Wildfire Management Branch)
Euchiniko Lakes, July 9, 2014(33 of54)
(credit:B.C. Wildfire Management Branch)
Red Deer Creek, July 9, 2014(34 of54)
The wildfire near Tumbler Ridge more than quadrupled in size in its 24 hours and threatened to singe Alberta's boundary. (credit:B.C. Wildfire Management Branch)
Red Deer Creek, July 9, 2014(35 of54)
(credit:B.C. Wildfire Management Branch)
Red Deer Creek, July 9, 2014(36 of54)
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Six-year-old Peachland wildfire evacuee Azaneth Mejia waits outside an evacuation centre with family friend Carmon Gorzynski in West Kelowna, B.C., on Monday September 10, 2012. One millimetre of rain and calmer winds overnight brought a small amount of relief to fire crews and about 1,500 residents who were quickly evacuated from their homes Sunday in the face of a raging wildfire in Peachland. (credit:THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck)
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Fire investigators examine an area where they believe a wildfire started in Peachland, B.C., on Tuesday September 11, 2012. Forestry officials say the fire is 75% contained but 258 people are still not allowed to return home. An evacuation order was lifted for part of the area late Monday allowing approximately 1,100 people to return home. (credit:THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck)
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A home destroyed by wildfire is seen next to another home not damaged in Peachland, B.C., on Monday September 10, 2012. (credit:THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck)
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Forest Protection Officer Jim Mottishaw talks about a property that was destroyed by a wildfire in Peachland, B.C., on Monday September 10, 2012. (credit:THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck)
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A wildfire burns in Peachland, B.C. on September 11, 2012. Officials report the fire is 75 per cent contained and the evacuation order has been rescinded. (credit:BC Forest Fire Info)
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A wildfire burns in Peachland, B.C. on September 11, 2012. Officials report the fire is 75 per cent contained and the evacuation order has been rescinded. (credit:BC Forest Fire Info)
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A wildfire burns in Peachland, B.C. on September 11, 2012. Officials report the fire is 75 per cent contained and the evacuation order has been rescinded. (credit:BC Forest Fire Info)
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A helicopter drops water on a wildfire in Peachland, B.C., on Monday September 10, 2012. One millimetre of rain and calmer winds overnight brought a small amount of relief to fire crews and about 1,500 residents who were quickly evacuated from their homes Sunday in the face of a raging wildfire in Peachland. (credit:THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck)
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A helicopter drops water on a wildfire in Peachland, B.C., on Monday September 10, 2012. One millimetre of rain and calmer winds overnight brought a small amount of relief to fire crews and about 1,500 residents who were quickly evacuated from their homes Sunday in the face of a raging wildfire in Peachland. (credit:THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck)
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A helicopter draws water from Lake Okanagan while battling a wildfire in Peachland, B.C., on Monday September 10, 2012. (credit:THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck)
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A wild fire burns out of control on highway 97C near Peachland, B.C. on Sunday September 9, 2012.Authorities have ordered the evacuation of about a thousand people from the path of a wildfire raging near Peachland, B.C. (credit:THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jeff Bassett)
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People watch smoke from a fire near Peachland, B.C. as they sit on Gyro beach in Kelowna on Sunday September 9, 2012. Authorities have ordered the evacuation of about a thousand people from the path of a wildfire raging near Peachland, B.C. (credit:THE CANADIAN PRESS/Tom Ockelton)
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A wild fire burns out of control along highway 97C near Peachland, B.C. on Sunday September 9, 2012. Authorities have ordered the evacuation of about a thousand people from the path of a wildfire raging near Peachland, B.C. (credit:THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jeff Bassett)
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A wild fire burns out of control along highway 97C near Peachland, B.C. on Sunday September 9, 2012. Authorities have ordered the evacuation of about a thousand people from the path of a wildfire raging near Peachland, B.C. (credit:THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jeff Bassett)
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A wild fire burns out of control along highway 97C near Peachland, B.C. on Sunday September 9, 2012. Authorities have ordered the evacuation of about a thousand people from the path of a wildfire raging near Peachland, B.C. (credit:THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jeff Bassett)
Areas affected by Peachland evacuation order(52 of54)
Mmap of areas affected by the Peachland evacuation order/alert. (credit:City of Kelowna.)
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A wild fire burns out of control on highway 97C near Peachland, B.C. on Sunday September 9, 2012.Authorities have ordered the evacuation of about a thousand people from the path of a wildfire raging near Peachland, B.C. (credit:THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jeff Bassett)
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Work crews gather along highway 97C near where a wild fire burns out of control near Peachland, B.C. on Sunday September 9, 2012. Authorities have ordered the evacuation of about a thousand people from the path of a wildfire raging near Peachland, B.C. (credit:THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jeff Bassett)