Smoke from the Sitkum Creek wildfire on the north shore of Kootenay Lake will continue to be visible in nearby areas, as combustible material within the fire’s perimeter continues to burn.

Much of the smoke that’s currently visible in parts of the Southeast Fire Centre is not coming from wildfires in B.C., but instead emanating from fires in Oregon, California and Washington.

Parts of southeast British Columbia have received varying amounts of rainfall over the past week, but the campfire ban that’s been in place since July 3 throughout the Southeast Fire Centre’s jurisdiction will remain in place until the public is otherwise notified.

An Area Restriction Order that was implemented for the Sitkum Creek wildfire on July 9, 2015, has been rescinded, effective immediately. This fire is now 90% contained.

Since Monday, July 20, the BC Wildfire Service has responded to 81 new wildfires in the Southeast Fire Centre. All but five of those fires were lightning-caused.

Recent thunderstorms have kept BC Wildfire Service crews busy fighting dozens of new fires in the Southeast Fire Centre. Crews have responded to 52 new fires since Monday, 50 of which were caused by lightning.

The large column of smoke visible from Nelson and surrounding areas this afternoon is the result of successful burn out operations on the Sitkum Creek wildfire.

People living in Nelson and surrounding areas will notice increased smoke on the Sitkum Creek Wildfire as a result of another proactive burn out operation.

The wildfire east of Lake Kookanusa and south of Cutts Road toward the Elk River is now 100% contained. This fire was discovered on July 4, 2015 and grew quickly and aggressively, prompting the evacuation of 200 people near Kragmont and further evacuation alerts in nearby communities.

The BC Wildfire Service is responding to a three-hectare wildfire near Kokanee Creek and two kilometres northeast of Kokanee Creek Provincial Park.