Home »
Wildfire prompting evacuation orders as highways closed
Evacuation orders are being put in place for the Ta Ta Creek, Wasa and Lazy Lake areas due to the Wait Creek wildfire (see below).
As well, Highway 93/95 and Highway 95A are currently closed due to the wildfire discovered today in the Wait Creek area, about eight kilometres south of Ta Ta Creek.
The human-caused fire is about 160 hectares and has experienced growth fueled by winds today and the Regional District of East Kootenay reports this is an incredibly dynamic situation.
Highway 93/95 is closed between Wardner Ft Steele Road and Mardis Forest Products and Highway 95A is closed between Thompson Road and Highway 93 / Highway 95A junction.
As a result, some of the mapping that went out with the Evacuation Notification System included a few additional properties in the Meadowbrook area that are not within the border of the Order area.
The Order area extends from the border of Thomason Road at Clarricoates road EAST towards Ta Ta Creek. Updated notification will be going out shortly and will be posted on the RDEK’s website.
Search and Rescue have completed notification within the Ta Ta Creek portion of the Order area and are now moving to the Wasa / Lazy Lake areas. Highway 95A is closed and Highway 93 is closed from just south of Wasa to the junction.
Firefighters, helicopters and skimmers are working together in response to this wildfire in an effort to limit the spread. Fire behaviour is being driven by strong southerly winds, this fire is burning at rank 4, which is a highly vigorous surface fire with torching or passive crown fire, BC Wildfire Service reported.
This is characterized by grey to black smoke and a moderate to fast rate of spread.
Learn more about Wildfire Rank.
Thirty-eight firefighting personnel are responding to this wildfire. There are helicopters and airtankers responding to this wildfire.
Monitor DriveBC and BC Wildfire Service websites for up-to-date information.
Lead image: The Wait Creek Wildfire near Ta Ta Creek and Wasa. BC Wildfire Service photo
e-KNOW
