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Island Pond fire spreads to 1,150 ha
The Island Pond fire 12 km south of Canal Flats has expanded to an estimated 1,150 hectares.
Today, BC Wildfire Service personnel are working on building a guard with the help of heavy equipment. A total of 40 firefighters are now engaged on the blaze, which began July 30 after a tree struck a power line.
An evacuation alert has been issued by the Regional District of East Kootenay. For information regarding this evacuation alert, please visit: http://www.rdek.bc.ca or call 250-426-2188.
To the north east of the Island Pond fire is the White River fire, now at an estimated 500 ha.
This fire is not currently affecting any communities or structures.
The fire is producing large amounts of smoke that is visible in the region from Radium Hot Springs and Canal Flats and as far east as Alberta, and south to Kimberley and Cranbrook. The fire is about 40 km east of Fairmont Hot Springs.
However, public access to the White-Middle Fork Forest Service Road is now prohibited at the 45.5 kilometre point. The Lands Manager of the Rocky Mountain Natural Resource District ordered the road closure due to concerns about public safety.
Visibility on this fire improved yesterday and crews were able to get an updated fire size. A six-person crew is working on reinforcing contingency lines today.
The Verdant Creek fire, which has caused the closure of Highway 93 through Kootenay National Park, remains at about 4,833 ha.
Discovered, July 15, the lightning caused fire has also caused the closure of Mount Assiniboine Provincial Park until further notice.
Please monitor the BC Parks website for further information.
The Ward-Bloom fire south of Cranbrook near the US border remains active but its size remains static, according to BC Wildfire Service, at 39 ha.
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