Due to recent rainfall and cooler temperatures — and in consultation with the BC Wildfire Service — BC Parks reopened portions of Mount Assiniboine Provincial Park for public use on Wednesday, Aug. 16, 2017.

The BC Wildfire Service is reminding members of the public that they must stay clear of firefighting aircraft that are collecting water from lakes and other bodies of water.

Due to a slight decrease in fire behaviour over the past several days, regional districts within the Southeast Fire Centre have made adjustments to some evacuation alerts and evacuation orders in the region.

A 70-hectare wildfire about 15 kilometres northeast of Nelson has prompted the Regional District of Central Kootenay to issue an evacuation alert between Sitkum Creek and Crescent Bay, as a precautionary measure.

Effective immediately, the BC Wildfire Service is restricting boat access on the Pend D’Oreille River due to boaters interfering with firefighting aircraft. As well, public access is restricted along the Pend D’Oreille Road from the Seven Mile Dam at Waneta – east to the international border.

BC Wildfire Service personnel have been responding to 43 active wildfires throughout the Southeast Fire Centre. These fires include the following:

A 75-hectare wildfire that’s burning about 20 kilometres southwest of Salmo and south of the Salmo River has prompted the Regional District of Central Kootenay to issue an evacuation alert for the McCormick Creek area.

More smoke may be seen coming from the Harrop Creek wildfire today (Aug. 9, 2017), as BC Wildfire Service personnel respond to a 15-hectare spot fire that is 750 metres outside of the main fire perimeter.

The BC Wildfire Service is reminding the public that they must stay clear of firefighting aircraft that are collecting water from lakes in the region, including Moyie Lake, Lake Koocanusa and Premier Lake.

The recent growth of two wildfires in the Southeast Fire Centre has prompted the Columbia Shuswap Regional District to issue two evacuation alerts — one for the Galena Bay area and another for Heather Lodge and the surrounding area.