The City of Kimberley is on evacuation alert following two separate wildfires in Matthew Creek and Tower Creek.
On Sunday (19 July) evening, the Regional District of East Kootenay (RDEK) and the Regional District issued two Evacuation Alerts due to separate wildfires.
An Evacuation Alert has been issued for the City of Kimberley, including all properties within the municipal boundaries due to the Matthew Creek Fire.
A second Evacuation Alert has been issued for 66 properties in RDEK Electoral Area E in the St. Mary Lake area due to the Tower Creek Fire.
“Given the current and forecasted conditions on both fires, particularly with ongoing hot, dry weather and little to no rain, the BC Wildfire Service has made the recommendation that Evacuation Alerts be issued,” says City of Kimberley Fire Chief Will Booth.
“This is the time for residents within both Alert areas to ensure they are staying informed from factual sources, are registered for the Regional Evacuation Notification System, and are taking steps to prepare themselves and their families should conditions worsen.”
Evacuation alerts are issued for residents to be prepared to leave on short notice, while an Evacuation Order is when residents must leave the area immediately.
What to do in the Evacuation Alert stage:
- Make an Evacuation Plan
- Share with household members
- Pack a Grab-and-Go Bag
- Include ID, medication, eyeglasses, important documents, valuables, hard drives and personal care items.
- Arrange a meeting location outside of the evacuation alert area where family members can meet if an evacuation order is issued.
- Please relocate any large animals to a safe area at this stage and prepare to take your pets with you (have food/water, carriers, medications, leashes, etc. ready to go)
- Commercial farmers should contact the RDEK Information Line at 250-426-2188 or 1-855-346-2188.
- Relocate recreational vehicles and boats at the Alert stage as there will not be time to move them in the event of an Order.
- Ensure there is enough fuel in your vehicles to safely leave the area if an Order is issued.
- Monitor rdek.bc.ca and www.kimberley.ca for information.
- An information line at 250-426-2188 will have the most up-to-date information recorded if a live operator is not available.
RDEK is reminding residents to stay informed from factual sources, be registered for the Regional Evacuation Notification System, and to take steps to prepare themselves and their families should conditions worsen.
The BC Wildfire Service has mobilized equipment and is working to identify control lines and establish guards in the Matthew Creek area. Aerial resources have been assigned, as all these fires are burning in steep, hazardous terrain that makes it difficult for BC Wildfire Service crews to work safely.
The latest status of the wildfires is available on www.bcwildfire.ca.
No matter where you live in the East Kootenay, register for the Evacuation Notification System.
If you are already registered, please log in to confirm that the pins are at your exact location, as many people have not placed their pin directly on their intended property and risk missing critical alerts or receiving incorrect alerts.
Register at www.rdek.bc.ca/ens
Those without computer access, or who would like an additional hand signing up or verifying their pinned locations, can call the Regional Emergency Information Line at 250-426-2188 or 1-855-346-2188.
Evacuation Alert map for Matthew Creek is below:
Tower Creek Wildfire Evacuation Alert Map. (Image Credit: RDEK)
The Evacuation Alert Map for Tower Creek Fires in the St. Mary Lake area is below:
Matthew Creek Evacuation Alert Map. (Image Credit: RDEK)
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