51 active fires in Southeast and dry conditions won’t help

Photo: BC Wildfire Service

The Wren Creek fire is one of lightning caused fires now burning in the Southeast Fire Centre

Lightning sparked dozens of fires in the Southeast Fire Centre over the past week, and now dry conditions are causing new concerns.

87 new fires have been sparked since last Wednesday, and 51 of those remain active at this time. Fifteen are under control, 10 are being helped, but 26 are listed as out of control. Most of those are lightning-cased and at high elevations.

“As fuels continue to dry and relative humidity has dropped in the Southeast; we anticipate seeing increased fire behaviour and complexity as holdover fires continue being discovered,” notes the BC Wildfire Service in its latest update for the region.

Among the wildfires of note in the Southeast are the Mount Docking fire, which is located approximately 27 kilometres east of Radium Hot Spring.

The fire is estimated at 1,317 hectares in size. Morning inversions and heavy smoke reduced visibility over the past couple of days, and it wasn’t until Wednesday that crews were able to make a more accurate update on its size. Smoke is expected to increase in the afternoon and continue to be visible in the coming days.

There are currently 42 firefighters, six helicopters and five pieces of heavy equipment assigned to the Mount Docking fire.

11.5 kilometres west of Kaslo, 45 firefighters are supporting the control lines of the Briggs Creek wildfire with water in some areas.

The fire was discovered Aug. 1 and is estimated at 1,730 hectares in size. Originally burning in steep and mountainous terrain, it has since slowly backed downslope to established containment lines and is approaching an area of defendable ground where crews can start using direct attack strategies.

There are two other wildfires of note in the Southeast Fire Centre. The Mulvey Creek fire is approximately 4.5 kilometres from Slocan and is estimated to be four hectares in size. The Wren Creek wildfire is approximately 6.5 kilometres northeast of the Ymir and is estimated at two hectares.