Fort Simpson (Oct 01/04) - Huge plumes of smoke from a nearby forest fire panicked some residents in Fort Providence earlier this week, but the community was not endangered, according to Renewable Resources officer Evelyn Krutko.

The blaze caught hold in tall grass near Mills Lake, approximately 30 kilometres west of the community. Krutko, who flew over the site Monday and Tuesday, said the fire was human caused. Campers had made a campfire there earlier in the week and it smouldered until gusting winds caused it to flare up on Monday, she surmised.

She added that cabins in the Horn River area were not in the fire's path.

Renewable Resources officials decided there was no need to combat the flames as they were dying down near the tree-line, and there is plenty of water in the area. In addition, rain was in the forecast for late Tuesday and Wednesday. It was one of five fires still burning around Fort Providence, but it was the most noticeable from the community. Even though it's late in the season, Krutko said it's still essential for hunters and campers to make sure their campfires are fully extinguished.

"If the embers are too hot to handle, don't leave your fire," she advised. "Our forests are still completely dry."