9,500 hectares burned

Photo: Diamond Creek Fire Facebook

The B.C. Wildfire Service continues to hang back and let the Diamond Creek wildfire burn between Manning and Cathedral Provincial parks.

The fire has now scorched an estimated 9,500 hectares of B.C. soil since jumping the border from Washington State on Aug. 29. Across the two countries, the fire has burned around 48,000 hectares of forest.

“Right now, besides just monitoring the fire the crews are also assessing and establishing contingency lines that are well ahead of the fire,” fire information officer Max Birkner said.

Four firefighters, eight pieces of heavy equipment and a helicopter are managing the fire in B.C.

The fire is currently burning in alpine forest and poses no threat to public safety, and “limited threat” to structural values.

“Under certain circumstances, a wildfire may be deemed beneficial and, therefore, warrant a modified response, with crews monitoring and managing a fire, rather than fighting it,” the B.C. Wildfire Service website reads. “Fire removes low-growing underbrush, cleans the forest floor of debris, opens it up to sunlight, and nourishes the soil. This leads to healthier forests and stronger growth.”

The area has been hit hard by pine and spruce beetle infestations in recent years.

Cathedral Lakes Provincial Park remains closed.

Photo: Canadian Wildland Fire Information System

Fire outline, stars indicate recent hot spots