In the interest of public safety, the Regional District of Central Kootenay has implemented an evacuation alert for the Harrop, Procter, Sunshine Bay and Kootenay Lake Village, effective immediately on Thursday, Aug. 31, 2017.

Evacuation Alert

• The Harrop Creek wildfire is located approximately 10 kilometres south of the communities of Harrop and Procter. Winds caused an increase in fire behaviour overnight and contingency plans are being worked on and implemented currently.
• This 2,532-hectare wildfire is in difficult terrain containing volatile fuel types that challenge fire suppression operations. There is no updated fire size available at this time.
• For detailed information about this evacuation alert, people should call the Regional District of Central Kootenay at 250 352-6665 or visit the district’s website: http://www.rdck.ca/EN/meta/news/news-archives/2017-news-archive/evacuation-alert-issued-for.html

Forest Service Road Closure

• The Lodgepole FSR wildfire (N11971) is located approximately 33 kilometres southeast of Fernie. This fire is currently not threatening any structures or communities, however, it will be impacting the Lodgepole Forest Service Road, which is one of the main road systems providing access to and from the Flathead geographic.
• This fire is estimated to be 600 hectares in size.
• In the interest of public safety, a road closure in effect for the Lodgepole Forest Service Road starting at the 35-kilometre mark through to the 42-kilometre mark.
• A detailed map of the road closure can be found here: http://ow.ly/e5Ut30ePzSt

With increased wind activity expected in the Southeast Fire Centre, paired with the hot and dry conditions continuing in the region, the BC Wildfire Service is anticipating an increase in fire behaviour heading into the long weekend.

Update on Off Road Vehicle Restriction

• The prohibition specific to off-road vehicles does not apply to private land. The ORV prohibition does not apply to agriculture, emergency responders or commercial/industrial users who operate ORVs for farming, emergency response or business purposes. The ORV prohibition also does not apply to individuals who are customers of and remain in the presence of a commercial/industrial user operating an ORV for business purposes.
• The prohibition specific to on-highway vehicles, as identified in the off road vehicle regulation, section 2(e), does not apply when travelling on a road as defined in the forest planning and practices regulation. 
• The prohibition specific to motorcycles, as identified in the off road vehicle regulation, section 2(b), does not apply to motorcycles that are licensed for operation in accordance with the Motor Vehicle Act, when travelling on a road as defined in the forest planning and practices regulation.
• This order remains in force until the earlier of 12 noon (Pacific time) on Oct. 31, 2017 or until the order is rescinded.

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

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• On Twitter: http://twitter.com/BCGovFireInfo
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