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BCWS staying on top of regional fires
BC Wildfire Service (BCWS) reports the battle continues on the Bill Nye Mountain wildfire, which is remaining steady at 1,107 hectares, the same size reported on July 22.
“Crews continue to create a guard line on the west flank as well as continue to establish a control line along the base of the slope and up the sides where accessible due to steep unstable terrain,” BCWS reported.
Additional crews were brought in July 23 to help heavy machinery finalize the containment lines at the base of the mountain, creating a hand-built fuel-free on the north and west perimeter. “The established sprinkler system on the control lines has been turned on and helping to keep the area humid. Additional crews will also be working on prepping the space for direct suppression action. Helicopters remain available to bucket the fire on an as needed basis and to move crews around,” BCWS said.
The Regional District of East Kootenay (RDEK) still has an evacuation alert in place for 54 properties in the Lazy Lake, Lakit Lake, Holmes Road, and Wildhorse FSR areas. And on July 21, the RDEK implemented an evacuation order for two properties in the Lakit Creek FSR area of Electoral Area E, and for another property today on Lazy Lake Road.
Eight firefighters, three helicopters and two pieces of heavy equipment battled the fire, seven kilometres southeast of Wasa, on July 23.
BCWS today (July 24) reports one new wildfire in the East Kootenay. The estimated 14 ha fire is in the Mineral Creek area and Coppercrown Main Forest Service Road, about 14 km southwest of Panorama Mountain Resort.
There is another new fire at Armour Creek, nine km southwest of the Dewar Creek fire (see below) and about 26 km northeast of Riondel.
Four other fires continue to burn out of control in the East Kootenay area.
The lightning-caused Tanglefoot Creek wildfire, discovered July 16 about 15 km southeast of the Bill Nye fire, remains out-of-control at 325 ha.
The lightning-caused fire discovered July 16 in Dewar Creek about 2.5 km west of Price Lake in St. Mary Alpine Provincial Park, about 36 km northwest of Kimberley, is still out-of-control at 58 ha.
The lightning-caused Ptarmigan Creek wildfire five km north of Whiteswan Lake Provincial Park remains out-of-control at 55 ha.
And the lightning ignited fire along Marian Lake Forest Service Road, eight km northeast of Castledale on the east side of Castle Mountain, has blossomed from 1.1 ha on July 22 to 40 ha today.
Six other fires in the region remain under control or are being held.
A lightning-caused fire discovered July 22 at Hartley Lake, six km northwest of Hosmer, is under control at .2 ha.
The Granite Creek fire in the Purcell Wilderness Conservancy is being held at 26 ha.
The lightning-caused fire at Forsite, discovered July 19 on a slope on the east side of White River, 28 km northeast of Canal Flats is being held at an estimated .6 ha.
The Moyie River, Big Lake and Bear Creek fires remain under control.
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