43 fires burning in southeast

Photo: BC Wildfire Service

BC Wildfire Service crews are fighting 43 active wildfires in the Southeast Fire Centre region.

The 100-hectare wildfire in the McCormick Creek area (20 kilometres southwest of Salmo) has 37 personnel, four helicopters and six pieces of heavy equipment working on it. Ground crews were also being supported by airtankers as visibility allowed Friday afternoon. 

At the Harrop Creek wildfire, 10 kilometres south of Harrop and Procter, 110 firefighting personnel are working the blaze. The fire currently covers about 2,136 hectares and crews were being supported by four helicopters and three pieces of heavy equipment.

A 250-hectare fire five kilometres east of Galena Bay is burning in steep and difficult terrain. As of Friday afternoon, 34 firefighting personnel, two helicopters and one piece of heavy equipment were working to establish a fire guard on the west flank of the fire.

The Island Pond wildfire, about 17 kilometres southeast of Canal Flats, has not experienced much growth over the last several days and is about 75 per cent contained. As of the afternoon of Aug. 11, it covered about 1,073 hectares. Eighty-eight firefighting personnel were on site Friday.

The Lamb Creek wildfire is about five kilometres west of Moyie. As of the afternoon of Aug. 11, it covered about 12 hectares and was 30 per cent contained. 

The Moyie Mountain wildfire is about four kilometres east of Moyie Lake Park and covers about four hectares.

The White River wildfire is about 47 kilometres northeast of Canal Flats. As of Friday afternoon, it covered about 1,550 hectares. 

There have been eight new, lightning-caused fires in the East Kootenays since Thursday. None of these fires is threatening any communities or structures. The majority are smaller than one hectare, and two have been extinguished, two are being held, one is under control and crews are working on the rest in priority sequence.