Wildfire update: Wednesday, August 9, 2023

Aug 9, 2023 | 4:12 PM Wylie Henderson

The BC Wildfire Service continues to battle several active wildfires in the East Kootenay.

Find more information from the BC Wildifre Service via the Regional District of East Kootenay below:

UPDATE info from BC Wildfire Service (posted 4:00pm)N11805 St. Mary’s River (ʔaq̓am) – This fire continues to be…

Posted by Regional District of East Kootenay (RDEK) on Wednesday, August 9, 2023

UPDATE info from BC Wildfire Service (posted 4:00pm)

N11805 St. Mary’s River (ʔaq̓am) – This fire continues to be classified as BEING HELD and is not expected to grow beyond its current perimeter.

• The Evacuation Order for this fire was rescinded by ʔaq̓am yesterday (August eighth).

• Several roads within ʔaq̓am will remain closed to the public and ʔaq̓am is asking the public to stay out of the area to provide the BC Wildfire Service and responding crews full and unimpeded access. This includes Mission Wasa Low Rd (local traffic only) and Mission Road through to LD Ranch Road until danger tree falling is completed.

N22370 Jubilee Mountain – approx 9km NW of Spillimacheen

• Est 848ha

• An Area Restriction is in place.

• BCWS personnel and heavy equipment are in place developing machine guard and making control lines by hand.

• Helicopters are assigned to support and slow down fire progression in order for heavy equipment to complete control lines.

N71918 Kamma Creek – approx 27km W of Moyie

• Est 658ha

• Smoke is highly visible from Cranbrook, Kimberley and areas.

• An Area Restriction is in place.

• The BCWS continues to monitor this fire and will respond as needed.

N12046 Lladnar Creek Wildfire – 1.5km W of Sparwood

• 945ha (mapped)

• The Evacuation Alerts remain in effect and there have been no changes to them in the past 24 hours.

• An Area Restriction is in place

• Fire behaviour has been significantly reduced throughout the site. Observed fire behaviour throughout the area is rank 1.

• Patrols continue for ground crews as personnel continue to monitor burn operations that took place on August 6.

• Hand guards and equipment guards are being established on the southern flank, from Lladnar Creek to the transmission lines, for future planned ignitions.

• Structure protection personnel remain on site to assess, plan, and set up structure protection as required in areas of potential concern.

N12589 Raymond Peak – approx 9km NE of Grasmere in the Wigwam

• This fire was discovered in the evening hours of August 6 and is currently estimated at 60ha.

• It is being monitored by BCWS

N12352 Lum Creek – NE of Fisher Peak

• Est 494ha

• An Area Restriction is in place.

• As no structures or infrastructure are at risk of being impacted at this time and this fire is beneficial to this ecosystem, this incident continues to be monitored daily by BC Wildfire Service.

N12546 – approx 17km N of Elkford

• Est 1.1ha

• Discovered Aug 6

• This is a Modified Response fire and is currently not threatening any structures or communities.

N22240 Mia Creek – approx 17km NE of Canal Flats

• 2,783ha

• An Area Restriction is in place.

• Today work is continuing to improve the Moscow/White road for safety and access for crews as well as to serve as a contingency line.

• Work continues to build helipads and staging areas.

• Construction of a guard is underway from Mt. Glenn to Mia Creek and preparation work is underway for guard construction from the rock slide area to Moscow/White on the southeast corner of the fire.

N22243 Horsethief Creek – approx 10km W of Invermere

• 3,904ha

• An Evacuation Order and Alert are in place for this fire.

• Today crews are focusing on indirect attack on the northwest of the fire and are heavily attacking any spot fires past guards using ground personnel and aerial resources.

• Focus is also on maintaining containment lines on the east of the fire, patrolling and mopping up along established guard.

• The south of the fire will see work continue on creation of guards as well as mop up and patrol.

N21453 Yearling Creek – approx 23km E of Radium Hot Springs

• 2,876ha

• An Evacuation Alert is in place.

• Today crews are focused on aggressive mop up and patrol in the Cochrane creek area.

• Crews are mopping up 50’ in from the established guard and is extending a sprinkler line in the Cochrane drainage.

• Danger tree assessors and fallers are working from the Little Elk Junction to the west.

NEW

N12653 Mount Joseph

• Est 0.01ha

• This wildfire was discovered on Tuesday evening (August eighth)

• No further information is available currently. We will provide more details as we receive them.

– Article includes information from BC Wildfire Service via Regional District of East Kootenay