Until further notice, the Phelix Creek Forest Service Road is closed from the Blackwater Lake Road junction to protect public safety and to allow free access to wildfire crews. 

The closure is expected to be in effect for some time. Updates on the fire and road status will be provided if and when conditions change. 

The Brian Waddington Trail and the Brian Waddington Hut also are closed until further notice. The Birkenhead Lake Park Campground and the Birkenhead Estates are not affected by this closure.

The road and trail closures are due to increased winds forecast for this area expected to increase the fire activity on the Mount Taillefer Fire. The public is advised that this fire and smoke may be visible from the Birkenhead Provincial Park and surrounding areas. In the afternoon of Tuesday, Sept. 9, smoke should drift south to southeast above the mountain ridge tops. Tuesday evening and overnight, it is anticipated the smoke will settle into valley bottoms, and move toward the Birkenhead Lake and D’arcy areas.

A lightning storm, which tracked through the Birkenhead Lake and surrounding area Aug. 26, 2014, ignited a wildfire that continues to burn on Mount Taillefer, in the Phelix Creek area. The Mount Taillefer fire is approximately 30 hectares, about six kilometres northeast of Birkenhead Lake. The fire is burning on a steep slope.  

This is a modified-response fire, and a fire analysis strategy for this fire has been developed in conjunction with the land manager. This fire is burning in an area set aside for wildlife habitat, and is improving that habitat. As a “modified response,” the fire is being actively monitored but no resources are currently allocated to this fire due to fire management objectives and steep terrain.

The fire remains within the trigger points determined by the land manager. The fire is burning well within these trigger points, and the fire is not threatening life, property or the Birkenhead Provincial Park.

Travellers are urged to respect the closure and avoid the area as weather conditions and fire behaviour can change rapidly. Developments and updates on the fire and road status will be provided as conditions change. A map of the area can be viewed at this link: http://ow.ly/BirVN

The Coastal Fire Centre covers the area west of the height of land on the Coast Mountain Range from the U.S.A.-Canada border at Manning Park, including South Tweedsmuir Park in the north, the Sunshine Coast, the Lower Mainland, all of Vancouver Island, the Gulf Islands and Haida Gwaii.

To report a wildfire or unattended campfire, call 1 800 663-5555 toll-free or *5555 on a cellphone.

For the latest information on current wildfire activity, burning restrictions, road closures and air quality advisories, go to: http://bcwildfire.ca

You can also follow the latest wildfire news -

• Twitter at: http://twitter.com/#!/BCGovFireInfo
• Facebook at: http://facebook.com/BCForestFireInfo

Report a wildfire or unattended campfire by calling 1 800 663-5555 toll-free or *5555 on a cellphone.

Media Contacts:

Donna MacPherson and Marg Drysdale
Fire Information Officers
Wildfire Management Branch
Coastal Fire Centre
250 951-4209 (media line)