The Southeast Fire Centre says it’s making “good progress” on a wildfire on a ridge east of Slocan Park, but an evacuation alert remains in effect for now.
Three 20-person unit crews are working on the fire this morning, along with two heavy helicopters and air tankers. The fire is now estimated at 120 hectares.
“It’s still up on the ridge and hasn’t come down towards the community,” said information officer Jordan Turner.
A machine line has been built and fuel-free areas created around power lines and communications towers to help protect them.
However, an evacuation alert for the area won’t be lifted yet “because we’re expecting a lot of hot dry weather and heavy winds we don’t want to take any chances with this fire.”
It is not considered contained.
A Type I provincial incident management team with experience in dealing with fires close to communities has not yet arrived. That transition is expected to occur Thursday at 7 a.m.
One of the unit crews on the fire is from the Coastal Fire Centre, in addition to several initial attack crews from that region expected to help out in the Kootenays over the coming days.
Meanwhile, at the Fennell Creek fire, burning in a remote area 8.5 km east of Silverton, a fly-over today will try to get a more accurate read of its size, which was last reported at 100 hectares.
Ground crews were taken off the fire because of steep, dangerous terrain.
However, Turner said they do plan to bring crews back in and start establishing a guard.