News
Aerial Firefighting
Sunday storm creates new wildfire strikes across Kootenays
August 22, 2022 By Timothy Schafer, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, The Nelson Daily
There were nine new wildfires started over the weekend in the region, three of them related to a Sunday morning lightning storm that crashed through West Kootenay.
With five fires of note still burning in the region — including Briggs Creek, Connell Ridge, Cummings Creek, Mount Docking and Weasel Creek — there was yet another increase in fire activity over the last two days.
A late start to what is now proving a busy fire season had ground crews and aviation resources from the B.C. Wildfire Service responding to nine new fires in the region, in addition to 12 remaining active at this time.
Ten of the fires are under control, while the “out of control” fires that make up the rest of the statistics are not in any danger to person or property in the region.
Most of these fires are lightning-caused, high elevation targets.
“As fuels continue to dry and relative humidity has dropped in the Southeast; we anticipate seeing increased fire behaviour and complexity as holdover fires continue being discovered,” noted a press release from the Southeast Fire Centre.
Of note
Mulvey Creek
The Mulvey Creek wildfire is located approximately 4.5 kilometres from the Village of Slocan in the southern end of Valhalla Park.
The fire is estimated to be four hectares in size.
On Aug. 16 “skimmers and airtankers worked together on the fire to minimize fire behaviour, allowing ground crews to arrive and begin work establishing containment lines.”
There were five helicopters and 12 personnel onsite using direct attack strategies to suppress the fire.
“While smoke is highly visible from the Village of Slocan and surrounding areas, this fire is not currently threatening structures or infrastructure,” noted a BCWS press release.
Wren Creek
The Wren Creek wildfire is located approximately 6.5 km. northeast of the Ymir and is estimated to be two hectares.
“It is demonstrating moderately vigorous surface fire behaviour,” noted a press release from the Southeast Fire Centre late last week.
Airtankers were on site and successfully wrapped all sides of the fire with retardant.
The fire is not currently threatening structures.
