BC Wildfire Service personnel have been responding to 31 active wildfires throughout the Southeast Fire Centre. Although some of these wildfires are visible from surrounding communities, none are immediately threatening communities or structures.

These fires include the following:

• On July 25, five BC Wildfire Service personnel, one helicopter and the local fire department responded to a spot-sized wildfire three kilometres west of Baynes Lake on the west side of Lake Koocanusa.
• A 1.7-hectare fire reported on July 24 near Lockhart Provincial Park (on the east shore of Kootenay Lake, about six kilometres north of Boswell) is now 75% contained. As of the afternoon of July 25, 26 BC Wildfire Service crews were on site. The cause of this fire is under investigation.  
• BC Wildfire Service personnel, the local fire department, airtankers and two helicopters are responding to a 2.5-hectare fire, 19 kilometres north of Westbridge in the Christian Valley. This fire was discovered on July 24 and is 100% contained. The cause of this fire is under investigation.
• A 10-hectare, lightning-caused wildfire is burning near Rapid Creek, about 30 kilometres northwest of Lardeau at the north end of Kootenay Lake. Smoke from this fire may be noticeable throughout the Lardeau Valley and in the Meadow Creek area. Due to the steep terrain, this fire is being monitored at this time.

Smoky conditions are expected again throughout the Southeast Fire Centre, with prevailing winds forecasted to come from the north and northwest. This smoke originates from several large fires burning in the Cariboo Fire Centre and the Kamloops Fire Centre.

From April 1 to July 25, 2017, the BC Wildfire Service has responded to 172 wildfires in the Southeast Fire Centre that have burned 4,717 hectares. Of these fires, 127 were caused by lightning, while the remaining fires were human-caused. Last year on this date, 59 fires had burned 317 hectares.

The Southeast Fire Centre extends from the U.S. border in the south to the Mica Dam in the north and from the Okanagan Highlands and Monashee Mountains in the west to the B.C.-Alberta border in the east. The Southeast Fire Centre includes the Selkirk Natural Resource District and the Rocky Mountain Natural Resource District.

To report a wildfire or open burning violation, call *5555 on a cellphone or 1 800 663-5555 toll-free. For the latest information on current wildfire activity, burning restrictions, road closures and air quality advisories, visit: www.bcwildfire.ca

You can also follow the latest wildfire news:

• On Twitter: http://twitter.com/BCGovFireInfo
• On Facebook: http://facebook.com/BCForestFireInfo