The Regional District of East Kootenay (RDEK) has issued an evacuation ALERT for the Fort Steele area.

High winds and tinder dry conditions have led to extreme fire behaviour on the St. Mary River fire, which broke out yesterday on the Aqam Reserve. Thirty homes were evacuated by the Aqam band yesterday afternoon and the RDEK has now issued an evacuation ALERT for the following area:

• from the Mission Road on both sides of the St. Mary’s River up to the Mission Road/95A intersection (LD Ranch Road);

• across the Kootenay River to Hwy 93/95;
• south on both sides of Hwy 93/95 including Holmes Road, Fort Steele Heritage Town and the properties adjacent to the Hwy 93/95 junction at Fort Steele/Wardner road to the Wildhorse River and Campsall Road.

“An evacuation alert informs residents of the threat of a potential or impending danger. It is intended to give people time to gather things and prepare themselves so that they are ready to go should the situation worsen and an Evacuation Order be issued,” explained RDEK Information Officer Loree Duczek.

“We encourage people within the evacuation alert area to put together important papers (like insurance papers), medications, valuables, supplies for children and pets, and other important items so that in the event things progress and they are asked to evacuate, they are ready to go.”

An information line has been set up at 250-426-2188 or toll free 1-855-346-2188 and information is available on the RDEK’s website at: www.rdek.bc.ca.

For the latest status of wildfires.

RDEK

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