Washington state blaze threatens B.C.

WATCH ABOVE: U.S. President Barack Obama has declared a state of emergency in Washington state, where several wildfires are now out of control. Thousands of people have been forced from their homes, while two B.C. communities just over the border are spending the weekend on high alert. Robin Gill reports.

GRAND FORKS, B.C. – Two southern British Columbia communities have been warned that a wildfire burning just south of the Canadian border could force evacuations, although not all residents appear worried.

The Stickpin fire has grown to 168-square kilometres in Washington state and its northern tip is about four kilometres from the border.

Officials held community meetings in Grand Forks and Christina Lake Thursday night, updating hundreds of residents on the fire’s progress and informing them of emergency plans.

WATCH: Strong winds could spread Washington State wildfire into BC

READ MORE: Full coverage on the fires burning around B.C.

Jock Mackay attended and said he has faith fire crews will keep the communities safe.

“I’m quite confident sitting in Grand Forks here that there’s going to be no problem,” said Mackay, who spent 30 years fighting forest fires as a water bomber and helicopter pilot.

The meeting made people think about leaving their homes, he added.

“I’ve been talking to a few people since, and they’re packing their bags in preparation for what might happen.”

But as he looked out his window Thursday afternoon, he said the bags didn’t seem necessary.

“Right now it looks great. Not a cloud, not a bit of smoke in sight,” Mackay said, noting the area has been blanketed in heavy smoke for days.

Fire officials are in constant contact with their U.S. counterparts and plans are in the works to potentially send B.C. wildfire crews to help fight the flames, said provincial fire information officer Kevin Skrepnek.

“We are just being proactive in terms of getting some resources and personnel out there if we are called upon to respond.”

Bringing in international crews will be crucial in fighting the Stickpin fire, said Gil Knight, a public information officer in Washington.

“We have an extraordinarily large number of fires in the nation right now and our resources are just very taxed,” Knight said.

The Stickpin fire isn’t the only one causing trouble for residents in southern B.C.

Last week, the Rock Creek fire forced hundreds of residents to flee, destroying 30 homes and 15 outbuildings and leading to the cancellation of this weekend’s Ponderossa Music Festival.

Also cancelled was Grand Forks’ annual “Fly In” event because the municipal airport is being used by firefighting aircraft.

WATCH: Evacuation alerts could be widened in face of rapidly-expanding Washington wildfire

Transport Canada has issued a safety alert, warning that anyone who flies drones into controlled airspace could face fines up to $25,000 and prison time.

RCMP are investigating an incident last Sunday that saw planes and helicopters fighting fires in Oliver grounded for more than three hours because of a drone.

About 200 fires are burning across B.C., including a lightning-caused fire in Ts’il?os Provincial Park, about 125 kilometres southwest of Alexis Creek.

The province has spent $224 million to fight 1,734 this year, Skrepnek said.