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20 wildfires burning in region
The BC Wildfire Service is currently taking on or observing 20 wildfires in the East Kootenay, though only one is considered new as of this morning, August 20.
Two evacuation orders remain in effect for the St. Mary Valley west of Kimberley and Cross River area, adjacent to Kootenay National Park’s southern boundary.
There are also two evacuation alerts remaining in effect: the City of Kimberley due to the Meachen Creek wildfire and the Ta Ta Creek area due to the Lost Dog fire.
BCWS announced today that 22 firefighters from Ontario have arrived to help it take on the Lost Dog fire.
The following is an update on the fires as per BCWS…
Meachen Creek
Crews continued to build guard yesterday with the aid of heavy equipment and air support. Retardant lines continue to be placed by helicopters to reinforce the guards.
Ignition operations were also underway. Expect to see an increase in smoke on this fire today and in the coming days, if visibility permits.
“The fire size has changed due to a more accurate map of this fire. The fire has experienced minimal growth. We experienced favourable winds yesterday. The northwest and northeast winds pushed the fire back into itself in the lower part of the Meachen Creek drainage. The fire has not entered the valley; it has remained in the Meachen drainage. Little change occurred on this fire overnight,” BCWS reported.
Located in Kianuko Provincial Park and the Meachen Creek drainage, approx. 10 km southwest of St. Mary Lake, the fire discovered August 1 is now an estimated 6,996 ha.
An evacuation order has been issued by the Regional District of East Kootenay in the St. Mary Lake area from the west boundary of the City of Kimberley to the Redding Creek/St. Mary River convergence including St. Mary Lake Road and Lakefront Road. For more information on this order, please call the RDEK at 250 426-2188 or visit their website at: www.rdek.bc.ca
An evacuation alert has been issued by the Regional District of East Kootenay for the entire City of Kimberley Municipal Boundary, and properties in the RDEK directly south and southeast of the City of Kimberley Municipal Boundary. For more information on this alert, please call the RDEK at 250 426-2188 or visit their website at: www.rdek.bc.ca
Expanded forest service road restrictions are in effect for the Meachen Creek, Redding Creek, Grey Creek and White Boar forest service roads.
Beginning at the 31 km mark of St. Mary Lake Road, the Redding Creek forest service road is closed to the height of land, and the 25.3 km mark on the Hellroaring forest service road junction with the St. Mary River Main forest service road.
BC Wildfire Service personnel are working together with the Regional District of East Kootenay, Teck Cominco and the City of Kimberley on this fire.
Located approximately 14 kilometres north of Kimberley, this fire is now an estimated 706 ha.
Discovered Friday, August 10, this fire triggered an evacuation alert by the Regional District of East Kootenay in the Ta Ta Creek area including west of the Kootenay River from 1.5 km south of Farstad Way Road to 2.5 km north of Woods Corner. For more information on this alert, please call the RDEK at 250 426-2188 or visit their website at: www.rdek.bc.ca
“This fire is now 90% contained with machine guard. The remaining 10%, located in a bay in the southern portion of the perimeter, with be guarded using wet line and hand tools by both type 1 and type 2 resources. Due to difficult water access, water tenders and skidders are being used,” BCWS said.
A 22 person Incident Management Team from Ontario assumed command of this fire as of last night, joining 45 firefighters, three helicopters and nine pieces of heavy equipment in the battle.
Located approximately nine km east of Highway 93, and about 23 km northeast of the Village of Radium Hot Springs, this fire has grown to 3,708 ha since being discovered on August 1.
An Evacuation Order is in effect. The Regional District of East Kootenay (RDEK) has upgraded their evacuation alert to an evacuation order for the Cross River/Nipika Mountain Resort areas. For more information on this order, please call the RDEK at 250 426-2188 or visit their website at: www.rdek.bc.ca
“This fire is a modified response fire meaning it is managed using a combination of suppression techniques, including direct and indirect attack, and monitoring to steer, contain and otherwise manage fire activity within pre-determined perimeters,” BCWS explained.
Cross River FSR restriction beginning at the 10 km mark of Settler’s Road, continuing down the Ravenheads FSR to the 44.75 km mark and continuing north on the Cross River FSR to the Cross Mitchell FSR junction. The Palliser FSR is restricted from the junction of the Kootenay River/Palliser FSR at the 40.25 km mark, continuing up Palliser FSR to the area around Nipika lodge.
“The machine guard on the south flank of this fire is now complete. Ground crews and heavy equipment continue to reinforce guard and build additional guard on this fire,” BCWS said.
Sage Creek
Located approximately 65 km south east of Fernie and approximately six km south west of the B.C.-AB border, this estimated 1,947 ha wildfire, discovered on August 2, is 65% contained and has not experienced any significant fire growth since August 16.
“Any changes in size since then have been the result of more accurate mapping. In the next 24 hours, the wildfire will remain active within its current perimeter; no growth is expected,” BCWS said.
This fire is a modified response fire meaning it is managed using a combination of suppression techniques, including direct and indirect attack, and monitoring to steer, contain and otherwise manage fire activity within pre-determined perimeters. This type of response is used to minimizes costs and/or damage and to maximize benefits from the fire.
The Flathead Sage Creek Forest Service Road is closed starting at the 81 kilometre mark at the junction of Flathead Kishinena Forest Service Road and the Flathead Sage Forest Service Road. No access is permitted on this section of road. This road will remain closed until the public is otherwise notified.
“Crew placement is challenging due to steep slopes, falling debris in burned areas, shifting winds due to mountain terrain, and the inversion that is currently causing poor visibility,” BCWS said.
Yesterday there were 107 firefighters, 11 helicopters and two airtankers working on the fire.
Randal Creek
Located approximately 17 km southeast of Yahk on the B.C./U.S.A. border, the fire discovered August 11 is now 879 ha.
The Regional District of East Kootenay (RDEK) has issued an evacuation alert for the Yahk, Meadow Creek Road and Highway 3/95 area.
“Crews continue to assess for potential burn off operations to be implemented when appropriate. Crews continue to work on containment lines on the east flank with the aid of air support,” BCWS reported.
For more information on this alert, please call the RDEK at 250 426-2188 or visit their website at rdek.bc.ca
An area restriction is in effect for the area past the six km mark on the Yahk Meadow Creek Road.
Coal Creek FSR
Located about 12 kilometres east of Fernie, the fire discovered August 10 is now about 713 ha.
Yesterday say 17 firefighters and a helicopter on the fire. A guard has been built in priority areas. Crews have successfully reinforced guard with small-scale hand ignition operations. Ground crews and heavy equipment are working on containment, BCWS outlined.
The Coal Creek Forest Service Road is closed beginning at the 33 km mark. The Leach Creek Forest Service Road is restricted beginning at the junction of Leach Creek Forest Service Road. The Corbin Road, and Morrissey Creek Forest Service Road are restricted beginning at the 0.3 km on Morrissey Forest Service Road, from the junction with Morrissey Road.
The cause of this fire is currently unknown and is under investigation.
Whitetail Creek
Located outside of Kootenay National Park’s western boundary, approximately 40 kilometres north of Radium Hot Springs.
Discovered July 27, the fire is now 576.0 hectares (estimated); it is considered 50% guarded and 20% contained.
“This is a modified response fire. The fire is being managed using direct and indirect attack management tactics and fire behaviour monitoring to contain the fire within pre-determined perimeters. This type of response is used to minimise costs and damage, and to maximize ecological benefits from the fire,” BCWS said.
“The guard along the Whitetail Creek drainage is complete and tied into the guard along the south. Crews continue to make good progress. Ground crews will continue to establish line today along with a new water pump site to support containment.”
This wildfire does not pose a threat to the Radium Hot Springs or other local communities at this time.
A road closure remains in effect for the Beaverfoot Forest Service Road beyond the 47-kilometre mark (near the Symond Creek Bridge). No access is permitted on this section of road. This road will remain closed until the public is otherwise notified.
Leach Creek
This fire that prompted last week’s evacuation alert for Corbin is no longer considered a ‘fire of note.’ It is 30 ha in size bit 95% guarded.
“This fire is ‘being held’ meaning that sufficient suppression action has been taken that the fire is not likely to spread beyond existing or predetermined boundaries under the prevailing and forecasted conditions,” BCWC reported.
Other wildfires in the region
- Kain Creek – 11.0 ha; discovered August 15; lightning-caused. Located south of Kain Creek, 11 km northeast of Bugaboo Provincial Park.
- Deadman Pass – .6 ha; discovered August 20. Lightning-caused fire located near Alberta border. Five to six km north of Crowsnest Provincial Park.
- McDermind Creek – 70 ha; discovered August 11. The fire is about 10 km south of Mount Fernie Provincial Park.
- Elk Valley –1.1 ha; discovered August 11. This fire is also about 10 km south of Mount Fernie Provincial Park.
- Lodgepole Creek – 15 ha; discovered August 11. Located about 12 km northeast of Elko.
- Bloom/Wickman – 577 ha; discovered August 11. Located about 19 km northwest of Newgate.
- Canuck Creek – 28 ha; discovered August 2. Located along Idaho border, about seven km east of Kingsgate/Eastport border crossing.
- Akenside – 374 ha; discovered July 31. Located west of Edgewater on the west side of the Columbia River Valley.
- Bow River FSR – 760 ha; discovered August 11. Located at the 90 km of the Bow River FSR (not to be confused with the Bow River in Alberta), west of the Bull River drainage.
- South Line Creek – 15 ha; discovered August 15. Close to the Alberta border, southeast of Elkford
- Weigert Creek – .09 ha; discovered August 11. Located 10 km south of Elkford to the west of Highway 43.
- Mount Erickson – 79 ha; discovered August 12. Located eight km southeast of Natal.
- e-KNOW