233067
230128

BC  

Newby fire jumps border

A wildfire burning out of control west of Osoyoos has jumped the Canada-U.S. border.

The Newby Lake fire was first spotted Thursday afternoon. It has since crossed from the Snowy Protected Area in Canada into the United States.

The B.C. Wildfire Service initially sent airtankers and an initial attack crew by helicopter, but neither were able to fight the fire due to its behaviour and crew safety.

A plan has now been developed to target the east flank of the blaze, as the other three sides are guarded by natural barriers.

A helicopter will establish a wet line around the fire perimeter and a 20-person crew will lay hose and mop-up the fire's edge.

There are no structures in the area.

To the east, crews are now in the mop-up stage at the Westbridge Wildfire. That fire, burning since the weekend, grew to 26 hectares in size.

A handful of homes were threatened by the fire, however, an evacuation alert put in place June 29 has now been lifted.

Both fires were lightning caused.

While firefighters are working to contain the 32 new fires reported since Wednesday, the province is taking the step of imposing a ban on all open burning across the province.

The ban begins at noon today and remains in effect until further notice.

Forests Minister Steve Thomson says the ban covers everything from campfires to fireworks, tiki torches and exploding targets used for rifle practice.

Only the area known as the fog zone, a narrow strip along the extreme west coast of Vancouver Island, is exempt.

Gas, propane or briquette cooking stoves, as well as CSA-approved portable campfire systems with flames of 15 centimetres or less are still allowed, but the province says that could change if dry conditions persist.

The forecast is calling for hot, dry conditions into next week.

Penalties for violating the ban begin with a $345 ticket and could include an administrative penalty of $10,000 plus fines of up to $100,000 and a year in jail.



More BC News