With hot and dry conditions continuing in the East Kootenay region, the BC Wildfire Service is anticipating an increase in new wildfire activity and is monitoring growth on existing fires in the region today.

Updates on some of the more significant wildfires in the Southeast Fire Centre are provided below, as of the afternoon of Tuesday, Sept. 12, 2017:

Quinn Creek wildfire (N11664)

• The Quinn Creek wildfire is about 30 kilometres west of the Elk River.
• This 6,576-hectare wildfire currently has 19 personnel on site, building fire guards with the aid of four pieces of heavy equipment and helicopters.
• As a precautionary measure, and in the interest of public safety, the Regional District of East Kootenay has issued an evacuation alert for the Elkford area and the District of Sparwood. For detailed information about this evacuation alert, people should call the Regional District of East Kootenay at 250 426-2188 or visit the district’s website at: http://www.rdek.bc.ca/departments/emergencyservices/emergencyinfo/

Linklater Creek wildfire (N11844)

• The Linklater Creek wildfire is about 18 kilometres southwest of Newgate and about 65 kilometres southeast of Cranbrook.
• This 927-hectare wildfire has 34 personnel on site today, supported by airtankers, helicopters and five pieces of heavy equipment.
• As a precautionary measure and in the interest of public safety, the Regional District of East Kootenay has implemented an evacuation alert for some areas on the west side of Lake Koocanusa. For detailed information about this evacuation alert, people should call the Regional District of East Kootenay at 250 426-2188 or visit the district’s website at: http://www.rdek.bc.ca/departments/emergencyservices/emergencyinfo/

Lamb Creek wildfire (N11927)

• The Lamb Creek wildfire is about 2.5 kilometres northwest of the community of Moyie and about 18 kilometres southwest of Cranbrook.
• This 1,978-hectare wildfire is burning in difficult terrain containing volatile fuel types that are challenging fire suppression operations.
• There are 110 firefighting personnel working on site, supported by heavy equipment, helicopters and airtankers.
• For detailed information about the evacuation order that’s been implemented for this fire, people should call the Regional District of East Kootenay at 250 426-2188 or visit the district’s website at: http://www.rdek.bc.ca/departments/emergencyservices/emergencyinfo/

White River wildfire (N21628)

• This 22,250-hectare wildfire is about 37 kilometres northeast of Canal Flats.
• Firefighting personnel and heavy equipment are working to establish staging areas for incoming ground crews.
• In the interest of public safety, the Regional District of East Kootenay has implemented an evacuation order for the White Swan area.
• More information is available on the Regional District of East Kootenay website at: http://www.rdek.bc.ca/departments/emergencyservices/emergencyinfo/
• In the interest of public safety, BC Parks has implemented a park closure for Whiteswan Lake Provincial Park. For more information on this closure, people can visit the BC Parks website at: http://www.env.gov.bc.ca/bcparks/explore/parkpgs/whtswan/

Harrop Creek wildfire (N71382)

• The Harrop Creek wildfire is about 4.5 kilometres from the communities of Harrop and Procter.
• This 3,142-hectare wildfire is burning in steep and difficult terrain and the BC Wildfire Service is closely monitoring it on a daily basis.
• In addition to an evacuation alert that’s been implemented for this fire, there are closures in place for the Harrop Mainline Forest Service Road and the East Harrop Mainline Forest Service Road.

• For information about the evacuation alert associated with the Harrop Creek wildfire, people should call the Regional District of Central Kootenay at 250 352-6665 or visit the district’s website at: www.rdck.ca

Rapid Creek wildfire (N71320)

• The Rapid Creek wildfire is about 27 kilometres northwest of Meadow Creek, near the community of Poplar Creek.
• This 14,000-hectare wildfire is being closely monitored by the BC Wildfire Service.
• For information about the evacuation alert associated with the Rapid Creek wildfire, people should call the Regional District of Central Kootenay at 250 352-6665 or visit the district’s website at: www.rdck.ca

Mountain Creek wildfire (N41172)

• The BC Wildfire Service is working in conjunction with Parks Canada on the Mountain Creek fire, which is burning in Glacier National Park.
• Currently, three helicopters are assigned to this fire.
• To learn more about the Mountain Creek fire and others fires burning in Glacier National Park, people should visit the Parks Canada website at: https://www.pc.gc.ca/en/pn-np/bc/glacier  
• On Sept. 11, 2017, the Columbia Shuswap Regional District rescinded the evacuation alert for Heather Lodge and the area outlined in green on the district’s document posted at: http://ow.ly/C8x330ecbqy
• Anyone who wants to learn more about the rescinding of this evacuation alert can call or email the Columbia Shuswap Regional District using the contact information included in that document.

The Southeast Fire Centre extends from the United States 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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