Michaud wildfire holding at control lines, smoke limits air support

Photo: BCWS

The Michaud Creek wildfire south of Edgewood continues to hold at control lines south of Johnson Creek.

In Saturday evening update, the BC Wildfire Service says fire behaviour has been less active due to lighter winds and heavy smoke in the area reducing temperatures slightly.

The smoke is impeding air support operations, however.

The lightning-caused fire has burned an estimated 4,600 hectares.

The Regional District of Central Kootenay has downgraded a portion of the area under evacuation order to an evacuation alert – 184 properties in the Edgewood area south of Robinson Road and the Lower Inonoaklin-North Branch remain on evacuation order, while 172 properties in the Edgewood area, primarily north of Highway 6 and Whatshan were reduced to an alert.

Crews are focusing on establishing containment in priority areas.

A 15-person Incident Management Team from Alberta has arrived to manage the fire, along with the Octopus Creek and Renata Creek fires, as part of the Arrow Lake Complex.