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St. Mary area evacuation alert lifted
The Evacuation Alert issued to 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the Redding Creek / St. Mary River convergence, including St. Mary Lake Road and Lakefront Road on August 11, has been rescinded by the Regional District of East Kootenay (RDEK).
Discovered August 1, the Meachen Creek complex wildfire is noted by BC Wildfire Service (BCWS) as being 9,113 hectares and active but is being held.
Being held status means that sufficient suppression action has been taken that the fire is not likely to spread beyond the predetermined boundaries under the prevailing and forecasted conditions, BCWS explained.
“Containment lines have continued to hold on the east side and there has been no further encroachment towards the St. Mary Lake community. The Meachen Creek fire is now 70% contained. Today’s objectives will be much the same as yesterday. Crews will continue establishing hose lines around the excursion and continue to work in the Fiddler Creek drainage and Meachen Creek drainage. Bucketing helicopters will be used to support the suppression efforts. Crews will work the spine in the northeast corner and bucket hot spots as required. Removal of structural protection equipment has been completed,” BCWS reported.
This wildfire is in the Kianuko Provincial Park and the Meachen Creek drainage, approximately four kilometres southwest of St. Mary Lake.
The Evacuation Order issued to the St Mary Lake area from East of St. Mary Lake to the Redding Creek / St. Mary’s River convergence including St. Mary Lake Road and Lakeside Road area was rescinded and replaced by an evacuation alert by the RDEK on September 4.
Restrictions remains in effect for Meachen Creek and White Boar Forest Service Roads starting at the 25.3 km mark of the Hellroaring Forest Service Road junction. There is a security checkpoint located at Meachen Creek and Hellroaring Forest Service Road junction. The Hellroaring Forest Service Road is open. Starting at the 31 km mark of St. Mary Lake Road, the Redding Creek and Gray Creek Forest Service Road are now open.
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