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Wildfires sweep Kootenays

Provincial firefighters have been dispatched to numerous lightning-caused wildfires within the Southeast Fire Centre.

Fires are burning within both the Arrow and Kootenay Lake fire zones.

While many are very visible, no structures are being threatened at the present time.

Fires of note include:

  • Three separate fires are burning about 12 kilometres south of Boswell in the Sanca area, east of Kootenay Lake. These fires are all 0.5 hectares or smaller. Airtankers, a helicopter and initial attack crews are working on site
  • Initial attack crews are responding to two small wildfires about five kilometres north of Queens Bay in the Coffee Creek region, west of Kootenay Lake.
  • Twenty-five BC Wildfire Service personnel are responding to a 0.2- hectare fire south of Champion Lakes Provincial Park, a 0.4-hectare fire on Mount Heinze (east of Birchbank) and a 0.5-hectare wildfire on Keystone Mountain (northwest of Salmo).
  • A 0.7-hectare wildfire west of Slocan Park in the Waverton Creek area is in steep, difficult terrain. A helicopter and initial attack crew are en route.

Since the start of the fire season April 1, 174 fires have broken out in the Southeast Fire District. More than 120 of those have been caused by lightning.

The fire danger rating through much of the zone is high, with pockets of extreme hazard in the Cranbrook, Arrow and Kootenay Lake fire zones.



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