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West Kootenay wildfires calm down

Cooler temperatures have allowed crews to gain control
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The Harrop fire taken in the first week of August. Photo: Billy Stevens

Most of the wildfires in West Kootenay have been under control for the last few days because of lower temperatures, according to Karlie Shaughnessy of the Southeast Fire Centre.

The Harrop fire is 100 per cent contained on the north side and on the south side is being monitored once a day by helicopter as it burns within itself. The fire covers 2,532 hectares.

The Morley fire, formerly known as the Kokanee Creek fire, is in the same situation: no firefighters but daily monitoring and 100 per cent contained. The fire covers 80 hectares.

The McCormick Creek fire near the Nelway border crossing is 50 per cent contained with 56 firefighters, six pieces of heavy equipment and one helicopter. The fire covers 410 hectares. The evacuation order was recently lifted.

The Galena fire stands at 445 hectares and is 50 per cent contained with 50 firefighters and no significant growth in the past few days. An evacuation alert issued earlier this month has been lifted.

The Rapid Creek fire north of Kaslo is a modified response fire, meaning that B.C. Wildfire Services is letting it burn and monitoring it. It covers 750 hectares mostly at high elevations, but an evacuation alert is still in place for the Poplar Creek area.



Bill Metcalfe

About the Author: Bill Metcalfe

I have lived in Nelson since 1994 and worked as a reporter at the Nelson Star since 2015.
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