BC Wildfire Service crews have responded to 52 new fires since Monday in the Southeast Fire Centre after recent thunderstorms.
The majority of the fires are in the Boundary region, but there were two new fires reported on Tuesday in the Cranbrook area.
One is in the Ward Creek area, near Gilnockie Provincial Park, and was 50 hectares at the time of writing. That is south of Cranbrook.
“I think it’s a little windy over there and it’s quickly grown,” said Karlie Shaughnessy, fire information officer at the Southeast Fire Centre.
The other is near Bull Mountain and measured 0.009 hectares.
The current fire danger rating is “moderate” to “low” in the majority of the Columbia, Invermere and Cranbrook fire zones, but “high” in the Revelstoke, Boundary and Kaslo areas, and “moderate” throughout the Kootenay Lake, Arrow and Boundary zones.
The Boundary region had 23 new wildfires. The largest covers 25 hectares and is located north of Midway and east of Ingram Creek. This fire is 100% contained and 30 firefighters and four pieces of heavy equipment are working on it today.
Crews are also responding to multiple spot-sized fires (less than one hectare) in the Christina Lake area. While these fires are visible from nearby communities, they are not threatening any structures at this time. Several other spot-sized fires are burning elsewhere in the Southeast Fire Centre. Most of these fires are located in remote areas and are not affecting nearby communities.
Protecting life and property are top priorities for the BC Wildfire Service. Members of the public can help by staying out of areas where wildfires are burning and obeying any area restriction orders currently in effect, including the one for the Sitkum Creek wildfire: http://ow.ly/PUkkN
The Southeast Fire Centre would like to thank everyone who reported wildfires this week. Early reporting is important for successfully extinguishing wildfires while they are still small.
To report a wildfire or open burning violation, call 1 800 663-5555 toll-free or *5555 on a cellphone.
For the latest information on current wildfire activity, burning restrictions, road closures and air quality advisories, go to: http://www.bcwildfire.ca