â–ş Listen Live
â–ş Listen Live

West Kootenay wildfires show little growth

One of the most visible wildfires sparked by lightning in the West Kootenay last week has been declared out, while the others have not seen much growth.

Southeast Fire Centre information officer Kim Wright says the Halfway Creek fire east of Salmo has been snuffed.

But they continue to work on several other fires, including the Frog Peak cluster of six  fires, whose smoke can be seen from the Slocan Valley.

Wright says they are fighting the fire with one helicopter and two ground crews using a “priority sequence.”

“They’ll be working on fires closest to communities and also fires with the most potential for unwanted growth,” she said.

All of the fires are under one hectare. None have showed any measurable growth in the last day.

Meanwhile, the Mount Ferguson fire four kilometers south of Harrop remains estimated at 1.5 hectares. It’s being tackled with one helicopter and three ground crews. Air tanker support is available, but wasn’t necessary today, Wright said.

The fires were among more than two dozen in the East and West Kootenay that started when a storm passed through the region. With rising temperatures forecast this week, Wright says they expect to find  additional “holdover fires.”

None are threatening any structures.

Wright said because the storms were forecast, they were able to prepare for them.

“Resource levels are adequate for current and anticipated conditions,” she said, adding that while the fire season has been off to a slow start in this region and around the province, it’s still a good idea to be prepared.

She said homes and businesses can take “easy and inexpensive” steps to conform with FireSmart principles.

Temperatures in the West Kootenay are expected to reach the high 30s later this week.

Greg Nesteroff
Greg Nesteroff
Greg has been working in West Kootenay news media off and on since 1998. When he's not on the air, he's busy writing about local history. He'll soon publish a book about the man who founded the ghost town of Sandon.

Continue Reading

chnv Now playing play

ckkc Now playing play

- Advertisement -

Related Articles

- Advertisement -

Latest News

Former Nelson public works director, councillor Bob Adams dies at 82

After 26 years looking after the city's infrastructure, Adams served four terms on city council.

Infrastructure, housing, UNDRIP will top agenda as local governments meet in Victoria next week

Members of local governments and First Nations are gathering in Victoria next week for the annual Union of B.C. Municipalities (UBCM) convention.

B.C. Conservatives support federal bill to classify intimate partner killings as first-degree murder

B.C. politicians are voicing support for a federal Conservative bill that would classify the killing of an intimate partner as first-degree murder. 

Whitewater eyes funding to pave access road

Whitewater Ski Resort is asking the Regional District of Central Kootenay (RDCK) to back its bid to pave a six-kilometre stretch of the Whitewater Access Road.

“Please stop”: Eby says Alberta’s pipeline dream jeopardizes B.C. projects

Premier David Eby said Alberta’s push for a new pipeline is a threat to existing major projects in B.C. 
- Advertisement -