BC Wildfire Service and ʔaq’am firefighters and heavy machinery operators continue with a full response, battling the now 300 hectares St. Mary’s River wildfire, located northeast of St. Eugene Golf Resort and Casino and east of Canadian Rockies International Airport.

Discovered yesterday afternoon (July 17), the fire is believed to have ignited from a downed power line. It quickly grew over a few hours from 20 ha to 100 ha and then thanks to 50 km/h gusting winds, it ballooned to about 300 ha, forcing evacuation orders and alerts in ʔaq’am and the Campsall Road and Buckman Road areas near Fort Steele and LD Ranch Road near Cherry Creek.

This morning the fire remains out of control with a growing number of ground crews fighting the fire supported with heavy equipment and aviation resources as required, BC Wildfire Service (BCWS) reported.

Last night, “winds stabilized and this incident received a trace amount of precipitation overnight,”BCWS said.

Heavy equipment operated through the night to support containment efforts and structure protection units are mobilized and planning is underway.

The BC Wildfire Service uses a full response when there is threat to public safety and/or property and other values, such as infrastructure or timber. Immediate action is taken.

During a full response, a wildfire is suppressed and controlled until it is deemed “out.”

Lead image: Heavy machinery operators gather in ʔaq’am this morning (July 18) to prepare to head up the road to fight the wildfire. Above, BCWS and ʔaq’am firefighters marshal at ʔaq’am.  Ian Cobb/e-KNOW photos

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